Collaborative Efforts with Pharma Companies Key to Expanding Vaccinations Across All Adult Age Groups, Says Expert

Samir Desai, President of BU Biologics and Vaccines at Zydus Life Sciences, advocates for collaborative partnerships between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare practitioners to extend vaccinations beyond pediatric age groups to encompass all adults. He underscores the urgency and significance of adult and elderly vaccinations in public health. Desai emphasizes the need for vaccine companies to work closely with healthcare professionals, educating them about the latest vaccine developments to ensure they can provide accurate information and recommendations to patients.

By fostering such collaborations, a more comprehensive approach to vaccination can be achieved, resulting in higher vaccination rates and improved public health outcomes. Improving vaccination rates across all age groups in India is a complex task that requires challenging conventional beliefs and promoting a positive attitude toward vaccines. Sustaining the momentum generated by the COVID-19 pandemic in vaccine awareness remains a formidable challenge.

Desai suggests targeting high-risk patients, healthcare practitioners, and children to establish a robust foundation for comprehensive vaccination efforts. Overcoming challenges calls for collaboration among policymakers, healthcare professionals, educators, and the public. While the COVID-19 pandemic initially raised awareness about vaccines, sustained engagement remains necessary due to complacency, shifting priorities, and misinformation. In India, deep-rooted psychological, cultural, and systemic obstacles hinder widespread vaccine adoption. Desai identifies the persistent lack of awareness about adult and elderly immunization as a major hurdle, emphasizing the need for targeted campaigns to dispel myths and raise awareness. The preference for immediate symptomatic treatments over vaccines highlights the necessity of educating the public about the broader benefits of vaccination in disease prevention and long-term cost reduction.