Why have Indian vaccines been denounced worldwide?

 Why have Indian vaccines been denounced worldwide?

Mission Indradhanush and the counterfeit drug trade in India. Banerjee, Yajnavalka. The Lancet Infectious Diseases, (2015) Volume 15, Issue 12, 1379 - 1380.

Tiny lives, big failures: India's drug regulation crisis. The Lancet Regional Health-Southeast Asia. Tiny lives, big failures: India's drug regulation crisis. Lancet Reg Health Southeast Asia. 2025 Dec 19;43:100705. doi: 10.1016/j.lansea.2025.100705. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lansea/article/PIIS2772-3682(25)00176-3/fulltext

The Massive Failures of India’s Drug Regulatory System.  2025. https://pulitzercenter.org/stories/massive-failures-indias-drug-regulatory-system#:~:text=India%20has%20around%2010%2C500%20pharmaceutical,%E2%80%94%20263%20drugs%20%E2%80%94%20were%20spurious.

Book review: How rotten is drug regulation in India?

Recent incidents

ATAGI statement: Counterfeit Rabies vaccine (Abhayrab®) reported in India: Guidance for travellers and healthcare providers [PDF - 217 KB]

The pharmaceutical manufacturer Indian Immunologicals Limited has reported that a counterfeit (fake) batch of the rabies vaccine Abhayrab® has been circulating in India since 2023.

Health authorities in Australia and the United States (CDC) have issued an unusual warning regarding the circulation of counterfeit human anti-rabies vaccines in India. The alerts specifically flag fake versions of 'Abhayrab,' a widely used vaccine manufactured by Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBAvVzt0j1c

Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), one of India’s leading vaccine manufacturers, has refuted claims by Australian health authorities over fake doses of its antirabies vaccine Abhayrab in India. https://www.newsonair.gov.in/indian-immunologicals-limited-refutes-claims-by-australian-health-authorities-on-fake-abhayrab-vaccine-doses/

Delhi Drugs Control Dept Warns of Fake Anti-Rabies Vaccine in Major Cities: A counterfeit version of the human anti-rabies vaccine Abhayrab, in major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Lucknow, has become a cause of concern for the Delhi Drugs Control Department. (DDCD). The regulatory body issued an urgent warning about the circulation of the fake vaccine, which is said to be falsely labelled as a product of Indian Immunologicals Limited, a government agency.  https://m.thewire.in/article/health/delhi-drugs-control-dept-warns-of-fake-anti-rabies-vaccine-in-major-cities/amp

Fake COVID-19 vaccines: scams hampering the vaccination drive in India and possibly other countries,

Choudhary OP, Priyanka, Singh I, Mohammed TA, Rodriguez-Morales AJ. Fake COVID-19 vaccines: scams hampering the vaccination drive in India and possibly other countries. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2021 Nov 2;17(11):4117-4118. doi: 10.1080/21645515.2021.1960770. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645515.2021.1960770

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/04/world/asia/india-covid-vaccine-scam.html

The World Health Organization (WHO) said it has identified counterfeit versions of India's primary Covid vaccine, Covishield. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-58253488

https://www.the-independent.com/asia/india/covid-vaccine-fake-covishield-who-b1904619.html

Fake yellow fever vaccine attracts govt crackdown. There have been reports of private centres providing the shots illegally in certain parts of the country. Updated on: May 24, 2023. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indian-government-cracks-down-on-unauthorised-yellow-fever-vaccination-centres-and-fake-certificates-to-prevent-disease-spread-and-quarantine-101684867348341.html

In June 2023, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) declared a batch of the Typbar typhoid vaccine, manufactured by Bharat Biotech, as "not of standard quality" because it failed specific quality tests. https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/hyderabad-based-bharat-biotech-recalls-typhoid-vaccine-batch-owing-to-substandard-quality/article66946119.ece

Brazil cancelled its $324 million deal for 20 million doses of the Covaxin COVID-19 vaccine in July 2021 following allegations of corruption, invoice irregularities, and pressure from a Senate investigation into the procurement process. The deal, which involved Bharat Biotech and its Brazilian intermediary, Precisa Medicamentos, was suspended after whistleblowers raised concerns regarding high prices and suspicious, rapid negotiations. The lack of Covaxin data was also the reason for the US FDA declining emergency use to the vaccine in the country. https://www.boomlive.in/coronavirus-outbreak/covaxingate-brazil-suspends-covaxin-bolsonaro-bharat-biotech-india-covid19-vaccine-13729

Substandard, fake medical products increased by almost 47% from 2020 to 2021 during the pandemic: report. Criminals saw the crisis as an opportunity to sell more such products, taking advantage of the vulnerability of people in need, ASPA president says. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/substandard-fake-medical-products-increased-by-almost-47-from-2020-to-2021-during-pandemic-report/article65270728.ece

Older ones 2013

The detection of contaminated vials of type-2 polio vaccine among batches administered to children in some parts of the country has sparked concern in medical and government circles, besides the public. A private pharmaceutical company reportedly reintroduced the virus in at least 150,000 vials of its oral vaccine, which were then administered to children in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Telangana. https://qz.com/india/1413018/polio-scare-resurfaces-in-india-who-calms-nerves

 Criminals have taken the manufacture of counterfeit drugs to lethal new levels by creating a fake human rabies vaccine that is being sold in the Philippines. https://www.travelvax.com.au/latest-news/travellers-beware-fake-rabies-vaccine-raises-stakes-deadly-global-trade

How and why does the Indian Council of Agricultural Research protect corrupt people and promote corruption?

How and why does the Indian Council of Agricultural Research protect corrupt people and promote corruption?

 

  Context: In an investigation in 2012, it was confirmed that Glander's diagnostic antigen, supplied and produced only by the ICAR-IVRI, Izatnagar was not produced using either standard Burkholderia mallei nor using any other strain of Burkholderia mallei, but was produced using a Micrococcus strain (a yellow-coloured bacterium). The matter was investigated repeatedly, and finally it was established that the Mallein produced and supplied by the Institute was a fake one. The use of the same fake mallein was done by ICAR-NRCE-Equine, Hisar, for the diagnosis and culling of the sick horses. Hundreds of falsely diagnosed Glander-positive horses were ordered to be killed, but certainly they were not sick, and thousands of truly Glander-positive horses were left to spread the Glander all over India. The spreading of Glanders despite thorough surveillance by ICAR-NRC(E) and culling of horses could not contain the disease, and finally led to the implementation of the Glanders control Program for millions of rupees (still going on). However, neither action was taken against those scientists who produced and sold the Fake diagnostic antigen, nor was the Director of the ICAR-IVRI (at that time Dr. Gaya Prasad) questioned for the anti-national deeds; probably a lot of money was involved.

 Some scientists were found involved in the production of and supply of malicious diagnostic material for the diagnosis of Glanders that lead to the spreading of Glanders in the whole of the country, a disease eradicated in1993 from India, leading to the killing of thousands of healthy horses and the escape of really sick horses, those might have spread the disease further, due to the use of the faulty diagnostic antigen. An RTI number ICARH-R1E1221OOS43 dated O5.12.2O22, regarding the outcome of the request to investigate the complaint dated 09-09-2020 under the Public Interest Disclosure was placed by the Under Secretary Vigilance-I, Mr. Ravi K Dobriyal, of ICAR, New Delhi, to DDG AS on 05-11-2020, from there it was sent tothe  Director ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, India. On investigation at the Institute level, the complaint was found truthful. In this concern, an email was written by the Joint Director Research of ICAR-IVRI, on 4 June 2021, to the AAO E-I to request the Director ICAR-IVRI to write to the DDG AS for forming a committee led bya  Vigilance officer to report to ICAR, New Delhi. 

To know the outcome, an RTI ICARH-R/E/22/00543 dated O5.12.2O22 was filed.

The reply is here: The matter is under investigation; information can not be provided.

Then again, the RTI (ICARH/R/E/26/00058 dated 14.02.2026) was filed with the same request to get:

1. Certified copy of the Director, ICAR-IVRI request to DDG AS for forming the enquiry committee in the above-referred matter.

2. Certified copy of the order indicating the name and designation of the proposed committee members to investigate the case referred to above.

3. Outcome of the investigation by the committee at point 1: Kindly provide the certified copy of the committee report.

4. Certified copy of the final Decision taken against the scientists who acted as traitors to the nation. 

The reply is as follows:

With regard to the specific documents requested, it is stated that copies of detailed investigation reports, note-sheets, internal correspondence, and portions of records forming part of vigilance files cannot be provided, as these contain sensitive information, including identities of officials, complainants, and witnesses, as well as confidential inputs obtained during the vigilance process. Disclosure of such information is exempt under Sections 8(1)(g) and 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Further, certain records involve third-party information and fiduciary inputs obtained during vigilance examination. Disclosure of such material would result in unwarranted invasion of privacy and may compromise the confidentiality essential to vigilance proceedings.

In this regard, it is also informed that disclosure of note-sheets and internal file records relating to vigilance matters has been denied under section 8(1)(g) of the RTI Act, 2005, in view of the settled law laid down bythe Hon'ble Central Information Commission in Shri. Satya Vijay Singh vs Central Vigilance Commission (Decision dated 08.02.2017) and earlier decisions, including K.L. Bablani vs. DG Vigilance (ClC/AT/A/2009/000617), wherein the Commission, inter alia, held that: 

Disclosure of vigilance file notings may expose officers to intimidation, harassment, or retaliatory litigation. Confidentiality of vigilance file notings is essential for effective and objective functioning of vigilance administration, and such information attracts exemption under Sections 8(1)(g) and 8(1)( j ) read with section 2(n) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Accordingly, the information requested vide RTI Application No. ICARH/R/E/26/00058 dated 14.02.2026 cannot be provided under Sections 8(1)(g) and 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act, 2005.

No action was ever taken against those scientists who produced and distributed the fake Glanders Diagnostic antigen for decades. No action was taken against the Director of ICAR-IVRI (at that time Dr. Gaya Prasad), who deliberately kept on selling the fake antigen despite knowing the truth.

Amritkaal for the traitors, and Vikas of the dishonests, in New India

 

Dear friends, where is our country going, and how is corruption supported?

I am citing an incident where Glanders, a contagious disease affecting horses and donkeys, was widely spread by some traitors, with scientists from IVRI directly involved. I filed several complaints, and Dr. Sandeep Gupta, a professor at Hissar Veterinary College, and Dr. Sandeep Pahal, a Supreme Court lawyer, submitted multiple complaints to ICAR and IVRI. A request to investigate the complaint dated 09-09-2020 under the Public Interest Disclosure was made by the Under Secretary Vigilance-I, Mr. Ravi K. Dobriyal of ICAR, New Delhi, to DDG AS on 05-11-2020, and was forwarded to the Director of ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, India. During the institute-level investigation, the complaint was found to be truthful. Some scientists were found involved in producing and supplying malicious diagnostic material for Glanders, which led to its spread across the country. Glanders was declared eradicated in India in 1993, but it is now present throughout central and northern India. The fake diagnosis produced and sold by IVRI resulted in the slaughter of thousands of healthy horses and the escape of genuinely sick horses, potentially spreading the disease further. In this regard, on 4 June 2021, the Joint Director of Research at ICAR-IVRI wrote an email to the AAO E-I, requesting that the Director of ICAR-IVRI write to the DDG AS to form a committee led by a Vigilance officer to report to ICAR, New Delhi. However, nothing came of this, except the launch of the Glanders Control Program by the Indian government to capitalize on the opportunity created by the so-called patriots producing fake diagnostic tests. An RTI (attached) was filed in this connection, and the RTI reply (attached) reveals the truth about Viksit Bharat and Amritkaal. 

Read the original Story at https://azad-azadindia.blogspot.com/2018/09/indian-disease-disseminating-research.html

Complaint to the DCGI regarding Counterfeit Abhayrab Rabies Vaccine produced by Indian Immunologicals Ltd.

Complaint to the DCGI regarding Counterfeit Abhayrab Rabies Vaccine produced by Indian Immunologicals Ltd.

 To

The DCGI,

Central Drugs Standard Control Organization, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,

Directorate General of Health Services, Government of India

FDA Bhavan, ITO, Kotla Road, New Delhi -110002

 

Sub- Complaint regarding Counterfeit Abhyarab Rabies Vaccine produced by Indian Immunologicals Ltd.

Sir,

Recently, the circulation of Fake Anti-Rabies in India created a row after the death of a girl vaccinated with Abhyarab from Indian Immunologicals Ltd, which is IIL, and the Australian Government has issued an advisory not to use the Indian-origin Anti-Rabies Vaccine, and those who have been vaccinated should get revaccinated with an appropriate vaccine. Moreover, Indian Immunologicals Ltd clarified that the incriminated batch was counterfeit, not produced by them, and they have filed a complaint with you. In the same context, I request the following information-

1.        The certified copy of the complaint filed by the Indian Immunologicals Ltd, if any, regarding the counterfeit Abhayarab vaccine batch, KA24014, manufacturing date March 2024, and expiry date February 2027.

2.        Any action initiated by the CDSCO on the complaint mentioned at point 1.

3.        The name of the counterfeiting or suspected counterfeiting vaccine producer and distributor firm, person, or organization, if identified at your end or at the end of the IIL.

4.        Size in terms of doses of counterfeit and real Abhayrab vaccine batch, KA24014, manufacturing date March 2024, and expiry date February 2027.

5.        The way ILL managed to identify that the mentioned Abhayrab batch was counterfeit, and at the same time, ILL claims that the vials of the counterfeit vaccine batch are not available in the market, suggests either they knew this fact or they imagined it. 

Sir, now, I also want to know from you: 

1. Please tell me how you confirmed that the mentioned counterfeit vaccine batch was genuinely counterfeit and not produced and distributed by IIL. 

2. How can either your organization or ILL compensate the parents of the affected girl and all others who received the counterfeit vaccine batch? 

3. Why has the CDSCO not checked other batches of the Abhayrab vaccine from IIL and monitored several other vaccines produced by IIL, which have a history of producing substandard FMD vaccines (for which the ILL has been fined over 60 Crores)?

 4. Why is the CDSCO so lenient in sampling and testing IIL-produced vaccines and medicines, considering their potential impact on public health? 5. Why has the CDSCO not taken action against producers and distributors of substandard and counterfeit vaccines and medicines in India? 

5. Do you not consider the lives of Indian people worth more than the profits of substandard vaccine producers? If so, what steps have you initiated in the last five years? 

I anticipate an early response. Thank you.

 

Regards

Yours

BR Singh
Rtd. Head of Epidemiology and Principal Scientist

Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly-243122, UP, India

The CDSCO has not replied yet. even after 40 days (15 Feb 2026). However, in reply to the RTI filed, they said, "the matter is underinvestigation, the sought information is exempted under section 8 (1) (h) of RTI Act,2005". No one knows how long the investigation will go on.

जियें तो जियें क्यूँ?

 जियें तो जियें क्यूँ?

जब जीने का सलीक़ा आया तब तक ज़िन्दगी की शाम आ चुकी है और मन बार बार यह सवाल करने लगा है कि जीएं तो जीएं क्यूँ. यह प्रश्न ऐसा नहीं कि पहली बार मैंने या किसी ने अपने आप से पूँछा है या पूँछा होगा. यह प्रश्न सास्वत है हमेशा से रहा है और रहेगा. इस प्रश्न का उत्तर तलाशते कितने दार्शनिक कितने आम लोग इस संसार में आये और चले गए परन्तु प्रश्न सुलझा नहीं उलझता गया. वैसे मैं भी इस प्रश्न को हल करने के लिए यह प्रश्न अपने आप से नहीं पूँछ रहा हूँ यदि ऐसा होता तो मैं भी बुद्ध और नानक की तरह इसके उत्तर की तलाश में बहुत पहले निकल चुका होता क्योंकि प्रश्न तो सास्वत है, मेरे मेरे मन भी दशकों से है पर इतना उग्र होकर कभी नहीं खड़ा था जितना कि आज. क्या मैं इसलिए जी रहा हूँ कि मेरे बग़ैर ये दुनिया अधूरी है, सूनी हो जायेगी, या फिर रुककर मेरा इंतज़ार करेगी, या फिर मैं इस दुनिया में कोई नया चाँद या सूरज उगाने वाला हूँ, या फिर मैं कुछ ऐसा करने वाला हूँ कि दुनिया में कुछ ऐसा करूँगा कि दुनिया बदल जायेगी? मेरे आने से पहले भी दुनिया थी, मेरे जाने के बाद भी रहेगी, अर्थात मेरे होने न होने से कोई अंतर नहीं पड़ता. अगर इस संसार में तथाकथित पैगम्बर, भगवान्, देवियां, देवता, प्रभुपुत्र, मनु, नानक, बुद्ध और भी जाने कितने अवतारी पुरुष-स्त्रियां या फिर सामान्य मानव ना आये होते तब क्या यह दुनिया ना होती? तब भी होती परन्तु शायद ऐसी ना होती. इस संसार में शायद मैं मैं ना होता आप आप न होते, परन्तु दुनिया होती तो अवश्य, संसार में इतना कुछ अवाल-बवाल  है जिसका ना पहले पता था, ना अब पता है ,और जितना जानने की कोशिश होती रही उतना ही जटिल यह सवाल और बवाल होता जाता है. तो यह नहीं तो कोई दुनिया अवश्य ही होती क्योंकि इस संसार में रहने, जीने और मरने वालों को, या फिर किसी को भी नहीं पता कि दुनिया है क्यों, यह सब है ही क्यों. शायद इस सवाल को अपने आप से पूंछते रहे कबीर ने यह लिखा था, "सुखिया सब संसार है, खाये और सोये. दुखिया दास कबीर है, जागे और रोये".

  मेरे सोचने न सोचने से इस प्रश्न (मैं क्या हूँ, क्यों हूँ, जीता हूँ कि मरता हूँ, सोता हूँ  कि जगता हूँ, कुछ करता भी हूँ कि बस यूँ ही हूँ) के हल होने की संभावना उतनी भी नहीं जितनी पहले कभी रही होगी या रहेगी क्योंकि मैं तो कोई ऐसा विचारक नहीं हूँ जो अपना जीवन इसी प्रश्न को हल करने में बिताकर और संसार को और उलझा कर चले गए (गए भी कि नहीं गए इसका भी किसी को पता नहीं). परन्तु, इस सवाल को सोच सोच कर समय बीतता जा रहा है, कहीं सुबह तो कहीं शाम होती जाती है, लगता है कि समय ही है जो मुझे और औरों को भी अपने साथ खींचता चल रहा है. परन्तु वो भी क्यों चल रहा है शायद उसे भी मालूम न हो.

इसलिए इस संसार में यदि सुखी रहना है तो खाओ (खाने के लिए खाना चाहिए, खाना पाने के लिए प्रयास, कर्म और समय) और सोओ (सोने के लिए चैन चाहिए, चैन के लिए विचार शून्यता होनी चाहिए वरना तो कबीर कि तरह रोते-रोते ही संसार में रहो), रहना तो तब भी है और अब भी है. आपको कैसे रहना है और कैसे नहीं रहना यह भी कहाँ वश में है, हाँ विचार शून्यता के लिए प्रयास कर सकते हैं आज भी और पहले भी विचारशून्यता उत्पन्न करने के लिए संसार में अनगिनत प्रयास हुए हैं दवा-गोली की तलाश हुई है, और कितनी ही आज संसार में उपलभ्ध भी हैं, विचारशून्यता इस मानविक संसार को चलते रहने लिए एक परम आवश्यक औषधि है. इस संसार में जो विचारशून्य हो गया उसने परमतत्व, या कहो शांति को प्राप्त कर लिया जो विचार करने में उलझ गया वो उलझ ही गया. संसार एक बहती हुई धारा, या हिलोरे खाते समुद्र, या स्थिर खड़े पहाड़ों, बहती हुई हवाओं में जीवों का जीते जाने का नाम है, इसमें जब कुछ लोग मुंह उठाकर क्यूँ, कहाँ, कैसे, कब, किसलिए जैसे सवाल करते हैं तब जो हलचल या फिर तरंग उत्पन्न होती है वाल्तेयर जैसे लोग उसे जीना कहते हैं, कबीर उसे रोना कहते हैं, नेता उसे विद्रोह कहते हैं, धार्मिक या धर्मग्रन्थ  उसे नास्तिकता कहते हैं, सवाल करने वाले अपने आप को विचारक और दार्शनिक माने लगते हैं और फिर इसी संघर्ष में दुनिया  चलती है, रूकती है, बहकती है, चहकती है, महकती है, और भी पता नहीं क्या क्या.  तो क्या यही सब होने का नाम ज़िन्दगी है?  

शांति क्या है, क्या विचारशून्यात ही शांति है? विचारशून्यता उत्पन्न करने के लिए हमेशा प्रयास या दवा-गोली की ही जरूरत हो ऐसा भी नहीं है, नींद आती है तो अपने साथ विचारशून्यता लेकर आती है और और शांत  होते हैं तब हम सो जाते हैं, जब विचार करते-करते थक जाते हैं, या काम करते करते थक जाते हैं तब भी नींद आती है, परन्तु बग़ैर गोली के नींद आती है थकने के बाद ही. थक जाना ही शायद शांति है या फिर अंत, जब हमारा शरीर जीकर थक जाता है, घिंस जाता है और हलचल बंद करके सारी मशीनरी बंद करके शांत हो जाता है उसका नाम मृत्यु है अर्थात मृत्यु ही अंतिम शांति है. कुछ विचारक कहते हैं कि अतृप्त मृत्यु को प्राप्त करके भी शांति नहीं पाते अर्थात अतृप्त और तृप्त का भी एक संसार है. तृप्ति क्या है? विचारहीन होना या फिर खा पी कर सो जाना! तृप्ति क्या शारीरिक है या मानसिक? कहते हैं मस्तिष्क से मानसिकता आती है, तो क्या मष्तिष्क शरीर से अलग है? तब क्या मानसिकता शारीरिक नहीं है? अगर मष्तिष्क शरीर से अलग है तो शरीर की मृत्यु के बाद भी क्या मस्तिष्क जीता है? विज्ञान तो कहता है कि ह्रदय का स्पंदन रुकने बाद सबसे पहले मरने वाला मस्तिष्क ही होता है. तब क्या विज्ञान भी झांसा है, लगता ज़िन्दगी एक झांसा ही है या फिर झांसे का एहसास. ये सब उलझने और और उलझाने वाले विचार ही शायद जीने का कारण हैं.