Ctg faces rabies vaccine shortage

Stock of government-allocated rabies vaccine is running out across Chattogram.

Chattogram General Hospital's free rabies vaccination programme has been suspended for past 16 days due to vaccine shortage.

Patients bitten by animals are now being forced to purchase expensive vaccines from private pharmacies.

Sunil Karmakar, a driver from Anwara, brought his six-year-old son to the hospital yesterday. "Doctors told me to buy it from outside as there is no vaccine in stock. The price is too high and will put a strain on me."

Chattogram General Hospital and Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITID) in Fauzdarhat are the only two institutions that provide free rabies vaccination in the district.

Between March and September this year, a staggering 15,884 people received rabies vaccines, including 4,000 for dog bites alone.

The Anti-Rabies Vaccine -- priced at Tk 500 per dose -- is used for minor wounds while the Rabies Immunoglobulin -- priced at Tk 1,000 per dose -- is for deep wounds.

Dr Ekram Hossain, acting superintendent of Chattogram General Hospital, said, "At present, we get only 300-500 vials against a monthly demand for 2,000 vials of rabies vaccine. Perhaps the supply will increase from next year."

Meanwhile, the patient numbers spiked at BITID as vaccine supply ran out at Chattogram General Hospital, confirmed Dr Iftekhar Ahmad, deputy director of BITID.

Supply of rabies vaccine to upazila health complexes across Chattogram remained suspended since June last year.

Chattogram Civil Surgeon Dr Jahangir Alam said a Development Project Proposal for the operation plan of Communicable Disease Control of Directorate General of Health Services will soon be approved and vaccine supply to upazila health complexes will resume.