Doctors in Hyderabad Flag Low Adult Vaccination Uptake Across India

Medical experts in Hyderabad have raised concerns over the severe neglect of adult immunisation in India, where less than two per cent of adults receive recommended vaccinations compared to more than 80 per cent coverage among children.

Doctors have called for greater awareness and regular vaccination against vaccine-preventable illnesses, including influenza, pneumococcal disease, and hepatitis. They stressed that adult immunisation must be viewed as a crucial element of lifelong preventive healthcare rather than an intervention limited exclusively to childhood.

Senior pulmonologist Dr Sudhir Prasad noted that awareness regarding adult vaccination remains poor, even following the broader acceptance of vaccines after the Covid-19 pandemic. He stated that adults rarely come forward on their own to seek vaccination. Although the influenza vaccine has been available for decades, awareness remains low, prompting doctors across general medicine, pulmonology, and other specialties to educate patients directly.

Dr Prasad highlighted that the influenza vaccine is particularly relevant during seasonal outbreaks and is generally recommended on an annual basis. He added that the pneumococcal vaccine, which protects against bacterial infections, is essential for high-risk groups, including individuals suffering from non-communicable diseases, alongside other eligible adults.

Cost and lack of institutional framework also affect uptake. An annual influenza vaccine costs around ₹2,000, while a pneumococcal vaccine costs approximately ₹5,000, depending on the healthcare facility and the specific vaccine used. Dr Prasad noted that while Western nations routinely recommend influenza vaccination for large sections of their populations, patients in India often still need to be convinced of its necessity.

According to medical experts, specific adult vaccination rates in India remain critically low: influenza vaccination coverage is estimated at around 1.5 per cent, typhoid at 1.9 per cent, hepatitis B at 1.9 per cent, and pneumococcal vaccination at just 0.6 per cent.

Physicians attributed this low uptake to several key factors, including inadequate awareness among both the public and healthcare providers, misconceptions regarding vaccine safety and efficacy, missed opportunities during standard hospital visits, limited public funding and insurance reimbursement, and the absence of a coordinated national adult immunisation programme.

Biotechnology pioneer Dr Varaprasad Reddy emphasised that immunisation could substantially reduce the overall burden of preventable diseases, associated complications, and deaths, urging that adult vaccination be made a stronger component of the national preventive healthcare strategy. Gastroenterologist Dr Guru N. Reddy also advised physicians to follow national and international recommendations, using routine consultations to educate patients on relevant vaccines.