Indian Immunologicals hosts massive Anti-rabies vaccine drive on World Zoonosis Day 2022

Administers 1 Lac free vaccines in nationwide vaccination camps at around 100 cities

Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), a leading vaccine manufacturer, organized a nationwide free vaccination camp against zoonotic diseases on account of World Zoonosis Day 2022 on 6 th July. Diseases that transmit from animals to human beings are called Zoonotic diseases. World Zoonosis Day is celebrated annually on July 6th to honour the first immunisation against a zoonotic illness. It holds substantial significance in educating and raising awareness about zoonotic diseases. IIL takes pride in offering this compassionate service of large-scale inoculation to the society every year.

Today, Indian Immunologicals, has administered 1 Lac doses of Raksharab and Starvac R (Anti-rabies
vaccines of IIL) free of cost, in endeavour to realize its vision of ‘One health’, a collaborative effort
towards optimal health for humans and animals through its innovative healthcare products. A recent
report from the State of the World’s Forests 2022 predicts India as a potential hotspot for zoonotic viral
diseases. 70% of all emerging diseases such as Rabies, Swine Flu, Nipah, Brucellosis, Leptospirosis,
Porcine Cysticercosis, Zika, etc. that affect humans are zoonotic in nature. In their fight against the spread
of such zoonotic viruses, IIL’s vaccination camp was escalated to 100 cities across the country through
veterinary dispensaries, veterinary colleges and NGOs.

Zoonotic diseases such as rabies have imperilled human health since antiquity. Dogs are the source of
most human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99% of all rabies transmissions to humans. India is
endemic for rabies accounting for 36% of the world’s deaths. True burden of rabies is not fully known,
although as per available information it causes 18000-20000 deaths every year. Rabies is taking its toll on
adult men and children, majority from rural areas, due to lack of awareness about proper post-exposure
immunization. Several countries have been able to reduce the number of rabies related human deaths
through vaccination of dogs. Awareness, accurate diagnosis, improvement in sanitary conditions,
prophylactic vaccination are all measures that need to be taken to restrain/eradicate spread.

Speaking on the occasion of World Zoonosis Day, Dr. K. Anand Kumar, Managing Director, Indian
Immunologicals Limited said, “It is the commitment of IIL as a truly One Health company to bring cost
effective vaccines in both animal and human health. Through our “Anti-Rabies vaccine drive”, we aim to
spread awareness on the disease and need to restrain it. Apart from Raksharab and Starvac R, IIL has the
largest range of zoonotic vaccines in the country such as CYSVAX, Bruvax, among others and we are
constantly innovating novel vaccines to cater to the ever-emerging zoonotic risks.”

Indian Immunologicals Limited (a subsidiary company of National Dairy Development Board) is a leading
biologicals manufacturer. Through research the company has delivered affordable vaccines for the
consumers in India. IIL continues to be a leading manufacturer of animal rabies vaccine (Raksharab) and
human rabies vaccine (Abhayrab) in the country. IIL’s CYSVAX is the world’s first vaccine for Porcine
Cysticercosis in Pigs. Cysticercosis is a very important zoonotic disease, and it is understood that it is a
prime cause of epilepsy in humans. Vaccinating Pigs against Porcine Cysticercosis can help significantly
reduce the incidence of epilepsy in humans.