Handbook on Adolescent & Adult Immunization

by A Parthasarathy, Alok Gupta

There is no age limit for vaccination. Even as young adults/senior citizens can be protected against specific VPDs relevant to regional epidemiology. Adolescence is a last opportunity for mass vaccination; therefore successive efforts should be made to increase the immunization coverage. Adult and adolescent immunization presents a number of unique barriers and challenges. Understanding the needs and limitations is important to effectively build the strategy. Along with oral and intranasal route, administration through microneedle devices, nanopatches have been developed and they have proved effective. The ‘Ready Reckoner Table’ gives details of some of the vaccines registered in India which is useful for adolescent immunization. All immunization centers should be equipped with emergency/anaphylactic drugs like adrenaline, dexamethasone and drugs intended for shock like dopamine. There is need to increase awareness of adolescent vaccination both in the community as well as in healthcare providers. It should be the universal goal to improve vaccine uptake among eligible adults and immunization coverage.

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