Adults go to paediatricians for flu vaccine, say docs

In the absence of adequate infrastructure for adult vaccination, adults are often forced to go to paediatricians to get themselves vaccinated against influenza including the deadly swine flu, say doctors.
Paediatric pulmonologist Dr Subhasis Roy says many times parents who come to get their kids vaccinated end up taking the flu shot themselves.
"There is hardly any place to get adults vaccinated for flu. The demand reaches its peak when there is any epidemic like the one we saw for swine flu. Many times I have to give vaccines to adults as well," the doctor from Columbia Asia Hospital told PTI.

Influenza virus which is commonly known as flu is a viral infection that attacks respiratory system - nose, throat and lungs. The chances of someone catching a flu is more during the rainy season.
The vaccine takes around 2-3 weeks to prepare body immunity against flu.
Although influenza vaccine can be taken by anyone over six months of age, health experts say children below 14 and adults above 50 are at a higher risk.

Flu can also be more severe for pregnant women, those with serious illness like heart or respiratory diseases and weakened immune systems.
Dr Manjori Mitra from the Institute of Child Health said the time has come when we must consider including flu amongst our mass vaccine programs before it becomes a serious issue.

"As of now it is not on the top of our national priority but we must take adequate precautionary measures through mass vaccination programs. The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) lists influenza vaccination only for those who have high-risk. But we should now consider whether we can make it compulsory for all," she said.
As per an estimation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 90 per cent of paediatric deaths have occurred in unvaccinated children in the past few years.