The Indian population is ageing rapidly, making older people vulnerable to infectious diseases such as pneumonia, influenza, and shingles, which can be debilitating and interfere with daily activities. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular, respiratory and diabetes are the main cause of VPDs in India, leading to increased hospitalisation and increased risk of stroke. Vaccinations have saved millions of lives, but it is important to prioritise adult immunisation to save more lives and improve quality of life, as well as reduce the economic burden of healthcare.
The World Health Organization defines healthy ageing as “the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables wellbeing in older age. In their “Decade of Healthy Ageing – Baseline Report -2020,” the WHO also highlighted adult immunisation as one of the measures for healthy ageing.
Dr Bhabani Prasad Chakravarty, a Rheumatologist practising at Dr Bhabani Prasad Chakravartyclinic, Guwahati says, “Vaccination against these diseases can save their lives and protect them from these complications. I see 350-400 patients of 50 years and above every month, and I recommend them to get the necessary vaccinations to encourage healthy ageing.”
