- A man died in Gwalior after receiving a tetanus shot instead of rabies vaccine after a dog bite
- Rabies vaccine requires immediate post-exposure doses and is different from tetanus immunization
- Tetanus vaccine does not protect against rabies, which is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear
A 36-year-old man died after he was allegedly administered tetanus injection instead of an anti-rabies vaccine in Gwalior. Raju Kushwaha was bitten by a dog while he was feeding him. Raju was admitted to the Jayarogya Hospital on April 28 where he was undergoing treatment, said a report in the Free Press Journal. He was allegedly given a tetanus injection and not an anti-rabies vaccine after the dog bite. The family said Raju started showing symptoms of rabies, including fear of water about 20 days later. He was admitted to the hospital when his condition worsened, where he succumbed to rabies. This is the seventh rabies death in Gwalior in the last three to four months.
Gwalior reported 13,579 cases of dog bite from December 2025 to April 2026. Of these, 6057 dog bite patients were treated at Jayarogya Hospital, 3772 dog bite patients at Murar District Hospital, and 3750 dog bite patients at Hazira Civil Hospital. Read on to understand what is rabies and why is a tetanus injection ineffective against rabies.
What Is Rabies?
Rabies is a vaccine-preventable, zoonotic, viral disease which affects the central nervous system, says the World Health Organization (WHO). Rabies infects mammals, including dogs, cats, livestock and wildlife. It spreads to people and animals via saliva, usually through bites, scratches, or direct contact with mucosa (e.g. eyes, mouth, or open wounds). WHO says, "Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is virtually 100% fatal."
In up to 99% of the human rabies cases, dogs are responsible for virus transmission through bites and scratches. Children between the age of 5 and 14 years are the usual victims of the viral disease.
How Is A Rabies Vaccine Administered?
Rabies vaccine is given post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for unvaccinated individuals via intramuscular (IM) route, typically in the deltoid for adults/children over 2 years or anterolateral thigh for infants. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a 5-dose schedule, which involves 1 mL doses on days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28, starting immediately after exposure. Also, a 4-dose regimen (days 0, 3, 7, 14) is used in some guidelines for healthy individuals. It is important to always clean wounds thoroughly first.
Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG)
RIG provides immediate passive immunity by neutralising rabies virus at the wound site. This bridges the gap until vaccine-induced antibodies form (around day 7). Human RIG (HRIG) or equine RIG (ERIG) is given as a single dose on day 0, along with the first vaccine dose. Infiltrate as much as possible around/into cleaned wounds. RIG is important for category III exposures (bites/transdermal bites) or category II in immunocompromised patients, but only within 7 days post-exposure.
Why Is Tetanus Ineffective Against Rabies?
Dr. J. Kirtana, Associate Consultant Infectious Diseases at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, shares why a tetanus injection is ineffective against rabies. Dr. Kirtana said, "Tetanus and rabies are completely different diseases, and confusing their prevention can be fatal. Tetanus is caused by Clostridium tetani, a bacterium that produces a neurotoxin. The tetanus vaccine works by generating immunity against this toxin. Rabies, in contrast, is caused by a deadly RNA virus transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, most often via dog bites. It attacks the central nervous system and, once symptoms appear, is almost invariably fatal."
Vaccines are highly specific. A tetanus shot offers zero protection against rabies. Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), the correct and lifesaving protocol, includes immediate wound washing, administration of rabies immunoglobulin where indicated, and a full course of rabies vaccination. This must begin as soon as possible after exposure. A tetanus shot may be given alongside this after assessing the wound and prior tetanus vaccination status, but only to prevent tetanus, not rabies.
Confusing the two can have deadly consequences. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), rabies causes thousands of preventable deaths each year, largely due to delays or errors in treatment.
"This is not a minor mix-up, it is a potentially irreversible medical error. Every dog bite must trigger immediate rabies risk assessment and appropriate prophylaxis," added Dr. Kirtana.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.
