Russia Withdraws Dog Vaccine After Link to Pet Deaths

The Russian veterinary and agricultural inspection agency, Rosselkhoznadzor, announced that batch 20 of the vaccine, which contained 60,000 doses, was found to pose serious health risks. Dog owners in Moscow, St Petersburg, and eight other regions, including Krasnodar and Yaroslavl, have reported approximately 300 cases of pet deaths linked to the vaccine, as noted by Russian outlet Baza.

In response to the situation, Vetbiokhim initially suggested that the vaccine controversy could involve sabotage. However, findings from the regulatory agency indicated serious production violations, countering claims of external interference. Prior to this order, four other batches of the Multican vaccine had already been suspended.

As investigations began in August, Vetbiokhim announced an internal review, while Rosselkhoznadzor warned the firm about the potential revocation of its license due to serious production issues.

Vetbiokhim offered compensation agreements to dog owners, between 200,000 and 300,000 rubles per case, but these agreements required them to waive further claims and sign non-disclosure agreements. The company characterized the confidentiality clause as a standard legal practice, according to reports from the business outlet RBC.

The Multican-8 vaccine was the leading pet vaccine in Russia from January to July of this year, making up about 20% of the market, as reported by Kommersant. Following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and subsequent sanctions, Vetbiokhim's market share surged, now accounting for roughly 70% of dog and cat vaccines in Russia.

Reports have also surfaced about deaths among cats vaccinated with Vetbiokhim's Multifel product. While Multican-8 is sold outside Russia, including in Belarus and Kazakhstan, no evidence of compromised batches has been found in international markets.