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Dr Rehana KausarVaccination is one of the most visible success stories of public health. The eradication of smallpox, the elimination of diseases like polio, diptheria, whooping cough and measles from large parts of the world are a testimony to vaccine efficacy.In fact, the end of the covid 19 pandemic and opening up of world trade and travel was possible only after effective vaccines were developed and administered to millions of people across the globe.However, vaccination has focused only on newborns and children and adults are left out of the circle of protection that vaccination offers. I want to write about this topic because I have encountered a lot of vaccine hesitancy in adults.Infections form one of the most common cause of death and hospitalization among elderly. Immunity declines with age and increases the chances of severe disease and death. In addition, elderly people frequently have other comorbidities which make them prone to infections.Vaccines allow elderly to be healthy and in turn create a healthy environment for those around them. With an increase in elderly population we need to focus on their health and well-being.Along with vaccines, a healthy diet and exercise are the cornerstones for healthy ageing. The most important vaccines which are used in adults and which need to be promoted are:Influenza vaccine: The flu vaccine is given annually from Septemberonwards andideally the vaccine should be administered before the end of October. It takes two weeks for immunity to develop against the virus so it is important to get vaccinated before the onset of the flu season.Seasonal flu vaccines are designed to protect against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. Influenza can be serious in the elderly leading to hospitalization and even death. Complications of influenza can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.Pneumococcal vaccine: Pneumococcus can cause pneumonia, sinusitis, ear infection, blood and meningeal infection. It has a bimodal distribution ie it affects children below 5 years and adults above 50 years. Two types of PCV are available and can be given to healthy seniors above the age of 65 yearsThe vaccine is also given to adults suffering from chronic lung, liver or heart disease in addition to people suffering from diabetes, smokers and to cancer patients.Varicella zoster vaccine: Also known as Shingles, varicella zoster is an incredibly painful condition with blisters appearing along dermatomes(nerve distribution). The condition is caused by the Herpes Zoster virus the same virus that causes chicken-pox. The virus remains dormant in the body and can appear as shingles in the elderly. An effective vaccine is available but is expensive.Cervical cancer vaccine: It is available for women in reproductive age to prevent cervical cancer. Two vaccines have been licensed for use in India and can be a game changer in the fight against cervical cancer.Hepatitis B vaccine: This vaccine is recommended for all unvaccinated individuals who are at risk for infection. In addition, HBV vaccine is recommended for high-risk groups such as dialysis patients, IV drug users, residents of nursing homes, and health care workers.In addition to these, some vaccines like meningococcal vaccine and yellow fever vaccine are mandatory while travelling to some countries.The main reason for a low uptake of vaccines among adults is that most people think vaccines are only for kids. A greater awareness is required for people to regularly update their vaccination and get benefited by newer vaccines which were not available a few years or a decade back. Vaccines are safe, effective and can enable us to live healthy and thrive in a changing world.(The author has an MD in Community Medicine)
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MORE than one million people in England are being urged to get a life-saving new vaccine.
It protects against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) - a cold-like illness that can make some people seriously ill.
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Invitations are being sent out to people in England eligible for the RSV vaccineCredit: AlamyInvitations are being sent out this week to Brits aged 75 to 79, and those who turned 80 after September 1, 2024.
While RSV infections are common and not usually serious, adults over the age of 75, babies under six months and people with a weakened immune system can become severely unwell.
The virus can lead to life-threatening complications like pneumonia and bronchiolitis, an infection that causes swelling of the small airways in the lungs.
In the coming days, about 1.3million older people will be contacted to come forward for their jab, NHS England said.
Appointments can be made directly through GP surgeries.
Steve Russell, national director for vaccinations and screening at NHS England, said: "RSV is not just a winter illness.
"We see cases increase in winter but it can occur all year round and can make older people seriously ill, so it is vital everyone eligible gets vaccinated - which is why we are now working hard to reach anyone who hasn't yet been jabbed and urging them to book an appointment.
"I would encourage everyone we contact in the coming days, or anyone who has previously been invited but hasn't yet taken up the offer, to get the RSV vaccine as soon as possible by contacting your GP.
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There are around 3.6million cases of RSV in adults every year in the UK, according to a report by RAND Europe.
Parents urged to know warning sign their child is struggling to breatheMany people do not seek NHS care, but approximately 600,000 GP visits, 460,000 NHS 111 calls and 24,000 hospital admissions are attributable to adult cases of RSV annually.
Researchers estimated 11,800 adult deaths are due to RSV in the UK.
The RSV vaccine was first rolled out in September 2024, with almost 1.5million people getting jabs, including more than 1.3million people aged between 75 and 80.
A study in the Lancet found the first season of vaccination could prevent up to 2,500 hospital admissions, 15,000 GP visits and 60,000 RSV illnesses in older adults.
Pregnant women are also eligible from 28 weeks, as RSV is a leading cause of infant mortality.
According to NHS England, almost 150,000 pregnant women have had the shot since September.
How to book your RSV vaccine
The RSV vaccine helps protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common virus that can make babies and older adults seriously ill.
If you're eligible to receive it, you should be contacted by your GP surgery and offered an appointment.
This includes:
But you don't need to wait to be contacted before booking a slot.
Some pharmacies will also be offering the vaccine.
You can visit nhs.Uk/book-rsv to book a pharmacy appointment near you.
It's best to get your RSV vaccine on a different day from your flu and Covid-19 vaccine to ensure its effectiveness.
Dr Conall Watson, consultant epidemiologist, UK Health Security Agency, said: "RSV can be severe in older people, causing serious lung infections like pneumonia and flare-ups of existing conditions.
"If you're eligible, there is good evidence it will help give you protection - speak with your GP practice about getting the jab."
RSV is a common cause of coughs and colds, and symptoms usually start within a few days of getting infected. These include:
If RSV leads to a more serious infection (such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis) it may also cause:
Most of the time, RSV clears up on its own. But you should ask for an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 11 if:
And call 999 if:
There is no specific treatment for RSV. The NHS recommends taking paracetamol or ibuprofen, staying hydrated, and getting plenty of rest.
Merck & Co's – known as MSD outside the US and Canada – adult-specific 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine has been recommended for approval by the European Medicines Agency's human medicines committee.
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended that Capvaxive be used to prevent invasive disease and pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in individuals aged 18 years and older.
Diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria are currently considered a "major public health problem" by the World Health Organization (WHO).
There are more than 100 different types of pneumococcal bacteria and Merck's Capvaxive, which is administered in a single dose, is specifically designed to help protect against the ones that are responsible for the majority of adult invasive pneumococcal disease, including eight strains not covered by any other approved pneumococcal vaccine.
The CHMP's recommendation was based on results from the late-stage STRIDE-3 trial, which compared Capvaxive to Pfizer's 20-valent vaccine (PCV20) in adults who had not previously received a pneumococcal vaccine.
Capvaxive elicited non-inferior immune responses compared to PCV20 for all ten serotypes common to both vaccines in adults aged 50 years and older, and generated superior immune responses for ten of its 11 unique serotypes. Additionally, Merck's vaccine elicited non-inferior immune responses in adults aged 18 to 49 years compared to those aged 50 to 64 years and had a safety profile comparable to PCV20.
The recommendation was also supported by results from the phase 3 STRIDE-4, STRIDE-5, STRIDE-6, STRIDE-7 and STRIDE-10 trials.
The European Commission (EC) will now review the positive opinion as it makes a final decision on Capvaxive, which is expected by the second quarter of 2025.
Paula Annunziato, senior vice president, infectious diseases and vaccines, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories, said: "This positive opinion is yet another testament to the clinical profile of Capvaxive and brings us a step closer to helping protect adults in the EU against pneumococcal disease.
"Invasive pneumococcal disease can lead to serious consequences, including hospitalisation, organ damage and even death. We are pleased with the CHMP recommendation and look forward to the EC's decision."
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