61-year-old woman suffers paralysis after suspected allergic reaction to rabies vaccine

According to reports, a 61-year-old woman suffered paralysis after receiving anti-rabies vaccine at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) in Alappuzha. He is currently in the intensive care unit (ICU) due to anaphylactic shock.

According to The Hindu, a woman identified as Shanthamma from Thakazhi in Kuttanad visited the hospital on October 21 after she suffered scratches on her hand from a rabbit.

Her daughter Sonia, in her complaint, stated that Shanthamma developed allergic reactions after being administered a test dose of the rabies vaccine. According to Manoramma’s report, despite these symptoms, hospital staff continued the full vaccination series, which allegedly worsened her condition. Soon after, Shanthamma lost consciousness and is now gradually recovering under medical supervision.

The hospital director explained that Shanthamma and her husband Soman were informed about the potential side effects before vaccination and that the vaccine was administered with their consent.

According to the report, after observing symptoms of anaphylaxis, the doctor on duty from the Department of General Medicine provided immediate care at the scene before she was transferred to the ICU. Since then, specialists from cardiology and neurology departments have been involved in her treatment. Hospital authorities explained that although rare but severe allergic reactions may occur with the equine rabies immunoglobulin used in this case.

Last year, in a similar incident, a contract nurse at Angamally Taluk Hospital in Ernakulam was fired after allegedly administering anti-rabies vaccine to a febrile child waiting for a blood test. The Kerala Health Department conducted an investigation and terminated the nurse’s employment following the August 11 incident.

In 2021, three elderly women who were scheduled to be vaccinated against Covid-19 were instead vaccinated against rabies in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh. The case came to light when one of the women began to feel dizzy and her health deteriorated.