Amrita Hospital, Faridabad has launched a centre of excellence dedicated to the vaccination of adults in a bid to offer protection to individuals from preventable diseases and reducing the country’s burden of illness, hospitalization, and mortality.
The current landscape of adult vaccination in India reflects a gradual but noticeable shift towards recognizing the importance of immunization throughout the lifespan, beyond childhood. While there has been progress in increasing awareness and access to adult vaccines, significant gaps remain in terms of coverage, distribution, and uptake. Various vaccine-preventable diseases, including influenza, pneumococcal infections, hepatitis B, and HPV-related diseases, continue to pose substantial health risks to adults, particularly those with underlying medical conditions or advanced age.
Prevention plays a crucial role in healthcare delivery, particularly in India. The Universal Immunization Program has significantly enhanced routine immunization and decreased morbidity and mortality among pediatric age groups due to vaccine-preventable diseases. However, there is a lack of focus on adults. Implementing preventive measures such as adult vaccination would not only alleviate the burden of communicable diseases but also reduce the societal impact of these illnesses and associated financial expenditures from public coffers.
Dr. Sanjeev Singh, Medical Director, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad said, “The importance of adult vaccination cannot be overstated. Vaccination not only safeguards individual health but also contributes to herd immunity, thereby preventing outbreaks and reducing the transmission of infectious diseases within communities. By maintaining high vaccination coverage rates among adults, we can effectively control and even eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases, leading to significant public health benefits. The launch of Amrita Hospital, Faridabad's center of excellence for adult vaccination aims to address existing gaps in adult immunization by providing comprehensive, evidence-based vaccination services tailored to the needs of individual patients. By establishing dedicated vaccination clinics staffed by trained healthcare professionals, the center seeks to increase awareness, accessibility, and uptake of vaccines among adults, ultimately improving health outcomes and reducing the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases.”
Despite national efforts to promote vaccination among adults, there are disparities in coverage rates, with certain demographic groups, such as the elderly, healthcare workers, and individuals with chronic illnesses, being less likely to receive recommended vaccines. Addressing these gaps requires targeted interventions to improve awareness, accessibility, and acceptance of adult vaccines. Challenges include overcoming vaccine hesitancy, ensuring equitable access to vaccines, and strengthening healthcare infrastructure to support vaccination services.
Amrita’s excellence centre will leverage advanced technologies and equipment to ensure the safe and effective administration of vaccines.
