Not Just a Child's Play: Why Do Adults Need Vaccines - Dr Sheetal Chaurasia

Vaccines have become a game changer in our fight against various infectious diseases. The first vaccine that was developed was against smallpox by English physician and scientist - Edward Jenner.

When deadly diseases like smallpox were controlled through vaccination, the power of vaccines was obvious to the entire world and the efficacy of vaccination became well-established and understood in children.

However, adult vaccination being there in guidelines and well-validated has not gained acceptance until the COVID-19 pandemic and its control by vaccination of the adult population was obvious across the globe.

Role of Adult Vaccination: Why Do Adults Need Vaccines?

The immune system is the major defence of the body against infections. Our immune system identifies the dangerous microbes and produces special white blood cells that act to eliminate this threat. The immune system also creates specialized memory cells that are able to recognize the microbe or toxin later.

With ageing, the immune system of a person weakens. As we grow older, lots of changes begin to occur in our immune system. Its response to invading microbes slows down, causing the body to take a longer time to recover due to fewer immune cells.

Moreover, the protection provided by a few childhood vaccines gets weaker over time, which requires some of those vaccines to be taken again. These are called booster doses.

Also with age, adults may develop other chronic diseases like diabetes, autoimmune diseases, kidney dysfunctions, liver ailments, lung, and heart diseases, these comorbidities reduce immunity further and increase the susceptibility of an individual to infection.

Even milder infections can suddenly exacerbate a pre-existing heart kidney and lung disease and make a patient much sicker as compared to a healthy young adult with the same mild infection.

Vaccination not only shields against the disease but also prevents the serious complications or consequences it may cause.

For example, flu vaccine not only protects against flu-related pneumonia but also flu-related complications such as heart attacks or stroke that can affect anyone but are especially dangerous for people with diabetes or chronic heart or lung conditions.

With globalization and increased work-related and recreational travel, even healthy adults may need vaccination against some unusual infections like yellow fever and hepatitis.

By getting vaccinated, one not only can protect oneself, but also avoid spreading preventable diseases to other people in the community. Hence, we must take proactive steps to increase awareness about adult vaccination and its ability to boost the weakened immunity of adults and help in reducing the lethality of various infections.

Awareness and Proactive Measures

The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the necessity for increased awareness of adult vaccination. Prior to the pandemic, many adults were not fully aware of the importance of keeping their vaccinations current beyond childhood. Now, there is a stronger recognition of how vaccines can protect adults from life-threatening illnesses.

Proactively raising awareness about the benefits of adult vaccination can help address the gaps in immunization coverage. By understanding that vaccination is not just for children, but a lifelong health strategy, adults can take steps to protect themselves, their loved ones, and their communities from preventable diseases.

Conclusion

Vaccines are not just for children—they are an essential part of maintaining adult health. By staying up to date on vaccinations, adults can protect themselves, their loved ones, and their communities from preventable diseases.

In an era where global health threats and emerging diseases are a constant concern, vaccines provide a powerful tool to safeguard public health at every stage of life.

So, if you haven't reviewed your vaccination schedule recently, now is the time to talk to your healthcare provider and make sure you're fully protected.