Influenza Vaccine Uptake Critically Low Among Elderly Indians, Experts Warn

Influenza claims an estimated 1.2 lakh lives in India every year, with nearly two-thirds of the deaths occurring among people aged 65 years and above. Yet less than 2% of elderly Indians have received influenza vaccine, according to an expert consensus published in the Journal of the Indian Academy of Geriatrics. The experts cited data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), which found that vaccination coverage among older adults remains abysmally low (less than 3%). The coverage was 2.75% for tetanus-diphtheria vaccination, 1.82% for hepatitis B, 1.59% for influenza and just 0.74% for pneumococcal vaccination. Dr Suranjit Chatterjee from the medicine department at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital said adult vaccination in India remains "at an abysmally low level" and needs significant improvement. "Vaccination is like an investment that prevents infections and hospitalisations and helps people remain healthy as they age. Efforts from multiple agencies are needed to improve immunisation levels," he said.

Less Than 2% Of Elderly Vaxed Against Illness; Overall Levels Below 3%

The low uptake is particularly concerning because infections are among the leading causes of hospitalisation in older adults, with pneumonia being the most common. Yet fewer than 1% of senior citizens have received a pneumococcal vaccine, which protects against a major cause of pneumonia. The paper notes that invasive pneumococcal disease accounts for an estimated 6-8 lakh deaths globally every year, largely among older adults and people with underlying illnesses. The recommendations come as India's population ages rapidly. People aged 60 years and above accounted for an estimated 10.5% of the population in 2022, a proportion projected to double by 2050. The consensus was prepared by a panel of specialists led by Dr Sunny Singhal of SMS Medical College, Jaipur, along with experts from AIIMS Delhi, JIPMER Puducherry, Christian Medical College Vellore and other institutions. The experts said India currently lacks a unified national guideline for vaccinating older adults. Limited awareness, vaccine hesitancy, cost and poor access continue to hamper uptake. They argued that structured India-specific vaccination guidelines could help reduce preventable illness, hospitalisation and deaths among senior citizens. The group recommended routine vaccination for older adults against influenza, pneumococcal disease, shingles and tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis, while advising hepatitis B vaccination for high-risk groups.