Low Adult Vaccination Uptake Raises Concern Over Preventable Diseases
They stressed that adult immunisation should be viewed as part of lifelong preventive healthcare rather than being limited to childhood.
Hyderabad:Despite high coverage under the childhood immunisation programme, adult vaccination remains largely neglected in India, with doctors calling for greater awareness and regular vaccination against influenza, pneumococcal disease, hepatitis and other vaccine-preventable illnesses.
Doctors said less than two per cent of adults in India received vaccinations as recommended, compared with more than 80 per cent coverage among children. They stressed that adult immunisation should be viewed as part of lifelong preventive healthcare rather than being limited to childhood.
Senior pulmonologist Dr Sudhir Prasad said awareness about adult vaccination remains poor, despite greater acceptance of vaccines following the Covid-19 pandemic. “Rarely do adults come forward asking for vaccination. The influenza vaccine has been available for decades, but awareness remains low. While universal vaccination is primarily associated with children under the immunisation programme, doctors from general medicine, pulmonology and other specialties are trying to educate patients about adult vaccines,” he said.
A 40-year-old frequent air traveller said he would often develop flu-like illness during seasonal changes. After taking the influenza vaccine on medical advice, he reported an estimated 80 per cent improvement in the frequency and severity of such episodes.
Dr Prasad said the influenza vaccine was particularly relevant during seasonal outbreaks and is generally recommended once a year. The pneumococcal vaccine protects against bacterial infections and was particularly important for people in risk groups, including those with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), besides other eligible adults.
According to Dr Prasad, an annual influenza vaccine costs around ₹2,000, while pneumococcal vaccination may cost around ₹5,000, depending on the vaccine and healthcare facility. “In Western countries, influenza vaccination is routinely recommended for large sections of the population, whereas in India people still need to be convinced about its importance,” he said.
Doctors said adult vaccination coverage in India remained low, with influenza vaccination estimated at around 1.5 per cent, typhoid at 1.9 per cent, hepatitis B at 1.9 per cent and pneumococcal vaccination at only 0.6 per cent.
They attributed the poor uptake to inadequate awareness among healthcare providers and the public, misconceptions about vaccine safety and effectiveness, missed opportunities during hospital visits, limited public funding and reimbursement and the absence of a coordinated adult immunisation programme.
Biotechnology pioneer Dr Varaprasad Reddy said vaccination could substantially reduce the burden of preventable diseases, complications and deaths. He stressed the need to make adult immunisation a stronger component of India's preventive healthcare strategy.
Gastroenterologist Dr Guru N. Reddy said physicians should follow national and international recommendations on adult vaccination and use routine consultations as an opportunity to educate patients about appropriate vaccines.
