In a country where vaccination is often associated only with childhood immunisation and the need for adult vaccines is often overlooked, HCMCT Manipal Hospital and Pfizer India have collaborated to launch a dedicated Centre of Excellence (CoE) for adult vaccination at HCMCT Manipal Hospital, Dwarka, New Delhi, strengthening the delivery of adult vaccines.

The Centre is focused on improving patient care by providing comprehensive adult vaccination services against various vaccine-preventable diseases, including Pneumococcal disease, Influenza, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and Hepatitis A and B, among others.

In India, 95% of vaccine-preventable disease deaths occur in adults, despite adult vaccination being a proven solution to enhance quality of life. The Centre will educate healthcare professionals on the benefits of timely adult vaccination, focusing individuals who are at-risk of chronic health conditions like COPD, Asthma, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Kidney Disease, Liver Cirrhosis, and those with additional risk factors like smoking, pollution exposure, or those aged 50 years or older, will also benefit from discussing adult vaccination with healthcare practitioners as a preventive healthcare measure.

Dr. Ankita Baidya, Consultant Infectious Disease, HCMCT Manipal Hospital, Dwarka, New Delhi said, “This adult vaccination centre will play an important role in promoting adult vaccine awareness, addressing hesitancy, and ensuring equitable access to life-saving vaccines, ultimately strengthening the public health infrastructure. Expanding adult vaccination in India can help reduce disease burden, protect vulnerable populations, and bring in herd immunity.”

Through this initiative, Pfizer and HCMCT Manipal Hospital also aspire to enhance patient education and provide counselling to address patient concerns and emphasize the long-term health benefits that public health measures, such as vaccines, can offer. This initiative will include extensive training modules and capacity-building efforts, complemented by access to guidelines and protocol recommendations for adult vaccination.