- Globally pneumococcal pneumonia is the leading killer adults.
- The population over 50 years is expected to represent 27% of the projected population in India in 2036
- Haemophlus influenzae type B vaccine,pneumococcal conjugate vaccine willreduce the financial burden in our country
“In India we usually see parents being particular and regular when it comes to vaccinating their children, but they do not do the same when it comes to themselves,” says Dr Kashmira Jhala, consultant pulmonologist, Apollo Hospitals, Ahmedabad .Adult vaccination is as important as getting your children vaccinated.Getting vaccinated against the flu is also vital every year for all adults. After COVID, we now understand that viruses mutate and a new strain arises. Hence getting a flu shot is necessary every year to prevent respiratory illnesses,” the expert adds.
“Doctors must promote the vaccine for pneumonia”
The doctor also emphasizes the need for a pneumonia vaccine.
For any adults above the age of 65 years or any age with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart conditions, chronic lung disease, chronic liver disease, and cancer are also at high-risk and must take a pneumonia vaccine, the doctor says.
According to Dr Jhala, “Doctors must promote the vaccine for pneumonia. Vaccination can give efficacy up to 70-80 against pneumonia and the severity of the disease like admission in the ICU can be prevented. There are two vaccines recommended for this PCV13 and PPSV23, which protect against 13 and 23 different variants of bacteria respectively.”
Two important vaccines
“To reduce the financial burden in our country, two vaccines among adults that I would recommend as a pulmonologist are pneumonia and influenza. With the help of these two vaccines, we can prevent cases of diseases like pneumonia and flu. Studies have shown the severity of pneumonia and flu can also be reduced by vaccines. Irrespective of a person’s underlying condition every adult over the age of 65 should get vaccinated for flu and pneumonia,” the expert says.
Approved vaccination for adults in India
Haemophlus influenzae type B vaccine, Hepatitis A vaccine, Hepatitis B vaccine, Human papillomavirus vaccine, Meningococcal vaccine, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, varicella vaccine, tetanus and diptheria vaccine, Measles Rubella vaccine, Rotavirus vaccine, zoster vaccine are recommended for adults in India.
Rise in demand for flu, pneumonia shots in Metropolitan Cities
Since the pandemic, there has been a behavioural change from denial of vaccine to acceptance. Covid played a big role in bringing about the change,” said Abhijit Chowdhury, a public health expert. “Covid vaccination has prevented many patients from getting critical.”
Several hospitals said the sale of influenza vaccines has gone up manifold since July, shortly after the onset of the monsoon in Bengal.
While one has to take the influenza shot once every year, the pneumonia vaccines are administered every five years.
“The sale of influenza vaccines started increasing in July. Now we have 16 to 17 people taking the vaccine every day at our outpatient department. During the Covid pandemic, the number was zero. Before the pandemic, only
one dose would be administered in a week,” said Sudipta Mitra, chief executive of a Reputed Hospital in Kolkata.
“Earlier, only those above 60 would take the influenza vaccine. Now, even younger people are turning up for a shot.”
Globally pneumococcal pneumonia is the leading killer adults
In India it is the leading cause of death in children under 5 years. As a result we reflect on the benefits that the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) has had in India.One of the challenges in diabetic adults is deterioration in blood glucose during infections, especially in serious ones like pneumonia. Use of steroids to control inflammation may send the blood glucose spiralling out of control. All this can potentially be avoided by just adhering to a vaccination schedule.
In 2017, based on recommendations from the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) Government of India (GoI) decided to begin the roll out of PCV. Initially, the vaccine was rolled out in five high burden states. By October 2021, the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) in India hit a milestone by expanding PCV across the remaining 31 states and union territories, in a record seven months. This incredible feat was possible because of strong political commitment; availability of an affordable indigenous vaccine; development and implementation of training and digital tools; and enthusiastic support from various partners.Adult vaccination was highly encouraged during the pandemic and this provides an opportunity to extend the benefit of available vaccines and vaccination to adults, elderly and the at-risk populations.
ICMR to find out if flu vaccines can reduce respiratory infections in the elderly
Are the flu and pneumococcal vaccines effective in reducing the burden of respiratory infections and antimicrobial use in elderly populations? Looking to answer this question, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – the country’s apex body for the formulation, coordination, and promotion of biomedical research — has now invited Expression of Interest from research institutions to conduct studies to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccines for flu and pneumonia in reducing infections and subsequent antimicrobial use in susceptible population. The impact of vaccinating the adults against vaccine-preventable diseases in terms of health, social and economic benefits is being increasingly recognised, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Are the flu and pneumococcal vaccines effective in reducing the burden of respiratory infections and antimicrobial use in elderly populations? Looking to answer this question, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) – the country’s apex body for the formulation, coordination, and promotion of biomedical research — has now invited Expression of Interest from research institutions to conduct studies to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccines for flu and pneumonia in reducing infections and subsequent antimicrobial use in susceptible population.
The population over 50 years is expected to represent 27% of the projected population in India in 2036 out of which 13% will be over 60 years.
“Influenza immunisation is associated with a decrease in antibiotic use, and pneumococcal vaccines reduce the carriage and transmission of antimicrobial-resistant strains of pneumococcus,” it said adding that there are several barriers to adult immunisation, even when available, including lower vaccine confidence, cost, lack of awareness and limited access to vaccines.
There is a national immunisation schedule for the elderly population in India till date.
