The Municipal Corporation of Delhi will provide intra dermal anti-rabies vaccine at 12 health centres in the city. Unlike the old vaccine, which is injected in the muscle, the new vaccine is injected under the topmost layer of the skin.

Private hospitals are already using the new vaccine, but it is for the first time that it will be used at a public health centre in India.

“For the first time any government body in India is going to provide intra dermal vaccine,” V K Monga, health committee chairman of the MCD, said.

According to the study approved by the World Health Organisation, the intra dermal vaccine improves the immunity response of the body with just one-tenth dose than that of the old vaccine.

“After the MCD health centres, we will forward the proposal to use the vaccines in Delhi government hospitals,” Monga said.

Expert at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences agree that the intra dermal anti-rabies is more effective, but has not been popular in India due to lack of awareness about it.

“The awareness about intra dermal is very less in India. Besides, it is difficult to change the mindset of the people,” Bir Singh, professor of community medicines at AIIMS, said.

However, the MCD is hopeful that the mindset will change. “Once the vaccine is available at the public health centres, people will get used to it and will start trusting it,” Monga said.