Author :
Imran Khan, Bhavna Sharma
Volume :
2
Issue :
1
Abstract :
Vaccinations have been an underused modality of preventive medicine. As India heads towards becoming a developed nation, with the rise in life expectancy the mortality rates have declined. Currently the estimated geriatric population in India is 8%, by 2026 the estimated geriatric population is projected at 12.17%. So the focus is now on morbidity rates. Vaccination holds great potential in protecting the geriatric population from life threatening illness and also at the same time reduce the burden on the medical services. Immunosenescence is often a major burden in geriatrics making immunization of extreme importance. It is the most effective protection against many common life threatening diseases in the geriatric population. The greatest hurdle to providing vaccination programs in a developing country is incomplete patient education and financial limitations. Hence, medical societies around the world need to promote education of geriatric population of the benefits of vaccinations.