India has almost 130 million people aged 65 and above, but most of them are not getting vaccines designed for older adults. Right now, less than 5% of seniors are vaccinated, which is very low compared to childhood vaccination rates of 75–90% under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). This gap is worrying and shows that urgent action is needed to protect older adults from serious diseases.
The UIP, launched in the mid-1980s, has been very successful in saving millions of children’s lives. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that vaccines for children have prevented more than 150 million deaths worldwide. Vaccines for children are widely available, and most kids are well protected against diseases like polio, measles, and tetanus.
In contrast, adult vaccination is almost missing, especially for older adults who are more vulnerable to infections. Diseases like influenza, pneumonia, and shingles can be dangerous for seniors, but very few are vaccinated against them. This shows a reversed vaccine gap, where children are well-protected but older adults are left exposed.
Experts say this is a serious public health failure. Protecting older adults with vaccines could prevent severe illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths, improve their quality of life, and reduce pressure on the healthcare system. The government and health organizations need to launch adult vaccination programs, raise awareness, and make vaccines easily accessible to older adults across the country.
If India can replicate the success of the UIP for seniors, millions of older adults could be protected, and the country could close the vaccine gap and strengthen public health for its ageing population.