Vaccines help your body to fight against a disease as it assists the immune system to create antibodies, which act like a soldier, thereby protecting us from various diseases. If it were not for vaccines, there would have been a lot of mortality/death in infants. There are many vaccines meant for both children (paediatric) and adults. Paediatric vaccines are streamlined, whereas adult vaccines have gotten some acceptance in our country recently.

“In the past few years, Measles and Mumps have shown a resurgence and the diseases once thought eradicated, have made a comeback. Our immune system also ages as we grow older. Hence, we need certain vaccines to protect us and prevent life-threatening infections,” said Dr. Anita Mathew, Infectious Disease Specialist at Fortis Hospital, Mulund.

She added, “Vaccines that can be taken by adults are Flu vaccine (Influenza) Tdap vaccine (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Whooping Cough) or Td vaccine (Tetanus, Diphtheria) and COVID-19 vaccine, if not yet taken. While Influenza can lead to mild to severe health problems, high-risk patients like those with comorbidities and senior citizens are most vulnerable and their health can deteriorate easily.”

One of the most common causes of death in the elderly is flu. As per records of the World Health Organization, seasonal Influenza can cause serious health issues and is estimated to cause 2 to 6.50 lakh deaths worldwide, due to respiratory problems. These deaths can be prevented by taking the flu vaccine as it is a safe and effective vaccine, however, there is a lot of resistance in people to take it as they feel they don’t get flu too often.

Dr. Mathew explained, “Our immune system gets overwhelmed due to certain common infections and can lead to morbidity or death. It is important to realise that vaccines are quite safe and effective in curbing infections and reducing their severity. COVID-19 vaccine has been one of the prime examples of how vaccination reduced the severity of illness and made it more manageable in a shorter time frame, than what it would have taken if there were no vaccines for it. Had there been no vaccines, we would have seen a huge population who would have died due to the virus.”

Therefore, it is essential even for adults, especially for high-risk individuals, to take adequate vaccines on time. If in doubt, one can consult their doctor, who would help opt for the appropriate vaccines.