WHO recognises adult immunisation as key for healthy ageing

HYDERABAD: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognized 'Adult Immunisation' as one of the strategies for healthy ageing in their 'Decade of Healthy Ageing – Baseline Report -2020'.

The Indian population is ageing rapidly with the number of people above 50 years of age expected to increase to 404 million in 2036 from 260 million in 2022, representing 27% of the country's projected population. Ageing results in reduced immunity and makes older people vulnerable to infectious diseases, which can be prevented with the help of vaccines.

Dr. Jaganmani Sreekanth, Head of the Department (HoD) of Internal Medicine, Apollo Health City, Hyderabad, said, "The success of the COVID-19 vaccination program showed us how vaccines could be used effectively to control infections in adults. This holds true for many other diseases. I believe that people above 50 years of age, who are more at risk, should take all the available vaccines against such infections."

In India, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes contribute to more than half of the total disease burden. Adults who suffer from such comorbidities are more prone to Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs). A report recently suggested that more than 95% of deaths due to VPDs in India occur in adults. Not only are these diseases debilitating, but they also tend to complicate the NCDs leading to increased hospitalisation.

Vaccines have saved millions of lives through complete or almost-complete eradication of deadly diseases such as smallpox and polio. The concerted effort to make pediatric vaccinations accessible to all children has yielded measurable results. The need of the hour is to prioritise adult immunisation to save more lives and improve quality of life. These measures can also serve to reduce the economic burden of healthcare for individuals, caregivers, and the nation.