Archive · 28 Aug 2026
India’s Low Adult Vaccination Rates Raise Preventable Disease Concerns
Children in India are vaccinated much more often than adults.
Doctors say fewer than two out of every 100 adults receive recommended vaccines.
They want people to view vaccination as healthcare that continues throughout life.
Vaccines can help prevent illnesses such as influenza, pneumococcal disease and hepatitis.
The influenza vaccine is generally recommended once a year.
Pneumococcal vaccination is especially important for some people with health risks, including non-communicable diseases.
Many adults do not know which vaccines they may need or worry about vaccine safety.
Doctors say better education, funding and planning could improve adult vaccination rates.
Less than 2% of adults in India reportedly receive recommended vaccinations, compared with over 80% childhood coverage.
Doctors urged adults to consider vaccines against influenza, pneumococcal disease, hepatitis and other preventable illnesses.
Reported adult vaccination rates include 1.5% for influenza, 1.9% for typhoid, 1.9% for hepatitis B and 0.6% for pneumococcal disease.
Doctors attributed low uptake to limited awareness, safety misconceptions, missed hospital opportunities, inadequate funding and the absence of a coordinated programme.
Annual influenza vaccination costs about ₹2,000, while pneumococcal vaccination may cost around ₹5,000, depending on the vaccine and facility.
- Who
- Doctors, healthcare providers and adults in India are involved in the issue.
- What
- Doctors are calling for greater awareness and uptake of adult vaccinations.
- When
- The recommendations concern ongoing adult healthcare; influenza vaccination is generally recommended annually.
- Where
- India, with the concerns reported from Hyderabad.
- Why
- Low awareness, misconceptions, missed vaccination opportunities, limited funding and the lack of a coordinated adult immunisation programme are contributing to low uptake.
- Adult vaccination coverage
- Less than 2% of adults in India reportedly receive vaccinations as recommended.
- Childhood vaccination coverage
- More than 80% of children are covered under the childhood immunisation programme.
- Influenza vaccination rate
- Estimated at around 1.5% among adults.
- Pneumococcal vaccination rate
- Estimated at around 0.6% among adults.
- Annual influenza vaccine cost
- Around ₹2,000, according to the report.
- Pneumococcal vaccine cost
- Around ₹5,000, depending on the vaccine and healthcare facility.
- Vaccines highlighted
- Influenza, pneumococcal, hepatitis B and typhoid vaccines were discussed.