MANIKGANJ, Feb 23: Supply of rabies vaccine completely stopped a couple of months ago at the 250-Bed Manikganj District Hospital, with a severe year-long shortage of the vaccine prevailing in the pharmacies across the district, depriving hundreds of patients of urgent treatment.
According to hospital data, Manikganj's seven upazilas - which have a population of 1.6 million in total - require 150 to 200 doses of rabies vaccine daily. Patients, including cat and dog bite victims, travel from all the upazilas seeking treatment.
Patients said they were not able to complete doses due to the year-long shortage in the district's pharmacies as many have been returning empty handed from the hospital after waiting for a vaccine for hours. The hospital's patients complain that even after months of crisis, no effective steps have been taken to solve the problem.
Not completing a post-exposure rabies vaccine series is extremely dangerous, as rabies is almost invariably fatal once clinical symptoms-such as fever, headache, hydrophobia, and paralysis-appear, according to Resident Medical Officer (RMO) Dr. ABM Touhiduzzaman Suman.
Sujon Mia from Nali Union in Ghior Upazila said, "A dog bit me on the way home at night. I came to the hospital first thing in the morning, only to learn there was no vaccine. I searched outside but couldn't find it. Later, someone managed to bring a vial from the market, and I shared it with him. I still need three more doses."
Salma Begum from Kanthapara in Harirampur said, "A cat scratched my daughter. I somehow managed two doses, but now I've been waiting for two hours and still can't get the next one. Even when it's available outside, we have to pay Tk 300-400 more per dose."
Khorshed Alam, a resident of the municipality area, said he couldn't find the vaccine for his wife bitten by a dog and the doctor warned them not to delay. "This disease has no treatment without vaccination. The government needs to intervene quickly."
Bulbul Ahmed, another resident of the town, said, "Everyone at the hospital says there has been no vaccine for two months. It's very disappointing. So many patients come here, yet there's no supply. We can't find it outside either. Where should we go now?"
Several pharmacy owners said the supply has remained unstable for a long time. "For almost a year, companies have been delivering very limited quantities. Even if we order ten vials, sometimes we receive just one or none. Pharmacies that had early stock are selling at higher prices, and even that stock is almost depleted," one of them said.
The hospital's Senior Staff Nurse and Vaccine In-Charge, Sobuj Mia, said "The supply has been halted since December 16.
Many patients come every day, but we cannot provide the vaccine. Those who manage to bring their own vial, we divide it among four patients. Once supply returns to normal, we will resume free vaccination at the hospital."
Dr. Suman said, "We are aware of the suffering. A demand letter has already been sent to higher authorities. We hope the supply will return to normalcy soon."
Residents of Manikganj are urging authorities to ensure an immediate supply of vaccines to both the hospital and local pharmacies.
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