Free Anti-Rabies Vaccines Available at PMC Hospitals; Doctors Urge Immediate Treatment After Dog Bites

PMC offers free anti-rabies vaccines at civic hospitals in Pune. Doctors stress immediate treatment after dog bites to prevent fatal rabies infection.

Pune | 26 March, 2026: In a significant public health step, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has made anti-rabies vaccines available free of cost at its major civic hospitals and dispensaries, urging citizens to seek immediate medical care after any dog bite or scratch. Health officials warn that rabies is entirely preventable with timely treatment but almost always fatal once symptoms begin, making early intervention critical. With a noticeable rise in dog bite incidents across residential and peri-urban areas of Pune, doctors say many victims ignore minor scratches or delay hospital visits, wrongly assuming the injury is harmless. Medical experts stress that even a small scratch or saliva contact on broken skin from an infected animal can transmit the virus, and there is no concept of a “minor” dog bite when rabies risk is involved.

PMC hospitals including Kamla Nehru Hospital, Naidu Infectious Diseases Hospital, Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial (YCM) Hospital, and other ward-level facilities are equipped to provide immediate wound care, tetanus shots, rabies immunoglobulin where required, and the full anti-rabies vaccination schedule at no cost. Citizens can walk in without appointments for emergency treatment. Doctors recommend that immediately after a dog bite, the wound should be washed thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 10 to 15 minutes, followed by application of an antiseptic such as povidone-iodine, while strictly avoiding home remedies like turmeric, oil, or tying cloth over the wound. Proper washing alone can significantly reduce the viral load before medical care.

Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system and, once symptoms such as fever, anxiety, confusion, hydrophobia, and paralysis appear, there is no cure and death usually follows within days. Children are particularly vulnerable as they often play outdoors and may not report minor bites or scratches. PMC’s health department has begun awareness drives in schools, housing societies, and community spaces to educate residents about responsible pet behavior, stray dog awareness, immediate reporting of bites, and the importance of completing the entire vaccine course, which typically follows a fixed schedule over multiple days. Doctors caution that stopping after one or two doses is dangerous and that the complete course is mandatory for protection.

Alongside medical preparedness, PMC’s veterinary teams continue sterilization and vaccination drives for stray dogs under the Animal Birth Control program to reduce long-term risks, while urging public cooperation in reporting aggressive animals. Officials reiterate that the availability of free vaccines removes the financial barrier, but awareness and swift action by citizens remain the most important safeguards. In any case of dog bite or scratch, residents are advised not to ignore the injury, not to delay treatment, and not to rely on home remedies, as prompt care at a PMC hospital can be life-saving.

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