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Kochi: Doctors stress preventive vaccine on adults against pneumonia

More than 800 research papers will be submitted this time in the conference, which is an all time record.

Kochi: Doctors say that as in the case of children, adults should also go for preventive vaccinations for pneumonia and it's high time the Central Government made it a mandatory programme in the country.

"In most of the cases end-stage of other system illnesses (eg: chronic renal failure) lands up in pneumonia because of poor immunity. Hence pneumococcal vaccination should be included or may be made as a policy in adult vaccinations. In Kerala there is not much awareness about the preventive vaccination for adults for pneumonia that can prevent mortality. A national policy for vaccination is yet to emerge whereas in the Western countries such programmes are there and prevention is taking place," said Dr Sunny P Orathel, chest specialist and co-chair of NAPCON-2019, the joint national conference of Indian Chest Society (ICS) and National College of Chest Physicians (NCCP) which will be held here from 21-24 November.

He said that one of the themes that will be dealt at the meet would be how to tackle these issues related to pneumonia. "Normally the vaccination is suggested for people above 65 years but any adult can take it," said Dr Sunny. The conference in four days is discussing a large spectrum of lung and chest conditions and diseases, respiratory health, issues relating to poor air quality, chronic respiratory diseases and other life threatening diseases.

Governor Arif Mohammed Khan will inaugurate the conference on Thursday. Dr. C Ravindran, organising committee chairman, Dr. Sudhir Choudhri, president- ICS and Dr. Suryakant Tripathi, president-NCCP, among others, will address the inaugural meet.

"The conference is giving special emphasis to research in clinical medicine to improve diagnosis and treatment of various diseases.

The researches are highly significant in the wake of emerging diseases like Nipah, H1N1 infection, monkey fever etc. The conference is being held on the theme Today's research is tomorrow's practice," said Dr. C. Ravindran, who is a former Principal, Government Medical College, Kozhikode.

More than 800 research papers will be submitted this time in the conference, which is an all time record.

Public participation in a public forum on a topic related to air pollution and associated health hazards, their prevention and management is a highlight of the inaugural day.

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