Context and Significance
- Elderly vaccination remains underprioritised in India’s public health framework.
- No dedicated national immunisation schedule exists for the elderly, despite their vulnerability to infections.
Relevance : GS 2(Social Issues , Health)
Importance of Elderly Vaccination
- High disease burden: 50% of severe pneumonia cases occur in older adults.
- Global concern: Pneumonia alone causes 156 million cases worldwide, with 800,000 deaths annually in India.
- Common preventable diseases: Influenza, pneumonia, hepatitis, shingles, and foodborne infections can be mitigated through vaccination.
Vaccine Hesitancy & Awareness Issues
- Misinformation & complacency:
- 60% of adults believe other health measures are better than vaccines.
- 43% feel they are not at risk of falling ill.
- Need for targeted awareness campaigns to correct misconceptions.
Challenges in Elderly Immunisation
- Cost barriers: Vaccination expenses often deter senior citizens from getting immunised.
- Lack of vaccine clinics: Dedicated elderly vaccination centres are limited.
- Health insurance gap: Immunisation is not adequately covered under most insurance plans.
Way Forward
- Developing a national immunisation program tailored for the elderly.
- Expanding insurance coverage to include vaccinations.
- Setting up vaccine clinics at hospitals and community centres.
- Public awareness drives to tackle vaccine hesitancy.
