Dr Rehana Kausar
Vaccination is one of the most visible success stories of public health. The eradication of smallpox, the elimination of diseases like polio, diptheria, whooping cough and measles from large parts of the world are a testimony to vaccine efficacy.
In fact, the end of the covid 19 pandemic and opening up of world trade and travel was possible only after effective vaccines were developed and administered to millions of people across the globe.
However, vaccination has focused only on newborns and children and adults are left out of the circle of protection that vaccination offers. I want to write about this topic because I have encountered a lot of vaccine hesitancy in adults.
Infections form one of the most common cause of death and hospitalization among elderly. Immunity declines with age and increases the chances of severe disease and death. In addition, elderly people frequently have other comorbidities which make them prone to infections.
Vaccines allow elderly to be healthy and in turn create a healthy environment for those around them. With an increase in elderly population we need to focus on their health and well-being.
Along with vaccines, a healthy diet and exercise are the cornerstones for healthy ageing. The most important vaccines which are used in adults and which need to be promoted are:
Influenza vaccine: The flu vaccine is given annually from Septemberonwards andideally the vaccine should be administered before the end of October. It takes two weeks for immunity to develop against the virus so it is important to get vaccinated before the onset of the flu season.Seasonal flu vaccines are designed to protect against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. Influenza can be serious in the elderly leading to hospitalization and even death. Complications of influenza can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.
Pneumococcal vaccine: Pneumococcus can cause pneumonia, sinusitis, ear infection, blood and meningeal infection. It has a bimodal distribution ie it affects children below 5 years and adults above 50 years. Two types of PCV are available and can be given to healthy seniors above the age of 65 yearsThe vaccine is also given to adults suffering from chronic lung, liver or heart disease in addition to people suffering from diabetes, smokers and to cancer patients.
Varicella zoster vaccine: Also known as Shingles, varicella zoster is an incredibly painful condition with blisters appearing along dermatomes(nerve distribution). The condition is caused by the Herpes Zoster virus the same virus that causes chicken-pox. The virus remains dormant in the body and can appear as shingles in the elderly. An effective vaccine is available but is expensive.
Cervical cancer vaccine: It is available for women in reproductive age to prevent cervical cancer. Two vaccines have been licensed for use in India and can be a game changer in the fight against cervical cancer.
Hepatitis B vaccine: This vaccine is recommended for all unvaccinated individuals who are at risk for infection. In addition, HBV vaccine is recommended for high-risk groups such as dialysis patients, IV drug users, residents of nursing homes, and health care workers.
In addition to these, some vaccines like meningococcal vaccine and yellow fever vaccine are mandatory while travelling to some countries.
The main reason for a low uptake of vaccines among adults is that most people think vaccines are only for kids. A greater awareness is required for people to regularly update their vaccination and get benefited by newer vaccines which were not available a few years or a decade back. Vaccines are safe, effective and can enable us to live healthy and thrive in a changing world.
(The author has an MD in Community Medicine)
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