Anti-rabies vaccine supplies running out

Six regencies in Bali have run out of anti-rabies vaccines in the last few weeks following an increase in dog bite incidents in their areas.

Bali administration spokesman I Ketut Teneng said the six regencies — Karangasem, Tabanan, Bangli, Jembrana, Klungkung and Buleleng — had no supplies of anti-rabies vaccines, especially for poor patients. “We are concerned that many poor patients will be unable to travel to Denpasar to get anti-rabies shots,” Teneng said.

Bali has instructed regional health offices in eight regencies to send patients with rabies symptoms, especially low-income patients, to get vaccines at Denpasar’s Sanglah Hospital.

So far, however, no regional health agencies have accompanied their patients to Sanglah Hospital.

Most patients arrive at Sanglah Hospital on their own. I Made Kerada from Jembrana regency said he panicked when he was bitten by a dog. Accompanied by his family, the 70-year-old grandfather had travel three hours from his village to Denpasar.

“We know Jembrana Hospital has no anti-rabies vaccines. We just wonder why the hospital management was unable to request for more,” Kerada’s son said.

Another patient, Ni Ketut Nadia from Tanah Lot, Tabanan, had a similar experienced.

“Tabanan Hospital never had any stocks of vaccines despite many incidents of dog bites,” Nadia’s mother, Sukraningsih, said.

Teneng said most regencies were unable to buy vaccines due to lack of funds. The provincial administration spent Rp 2.5 billion procuring vaccines over six months.

“We will shell out another Rp 2.5 billion,” Teneng said.

However, due to red tape, it will be some time before the additional funds are disbursed, he said.

Sanglah Hospital funds its own procurement of vaccines because the government has not disbursed any money.