Adults, it’s your shot: AIIMS opens clinic to target high-risk groups with core vaccines

Guwahati: AIIMS Guwahati has taken a major step in public health by launching the adult immunisation clinic, a pioneering initiative in northeast. The clinic is designed to protect adults and high-risk groups from vaccine-preventable diseases, addressing a critical gap in India’s healthcare system where adult vaccination has long been overshadowed by childhood immunisation, leaving adults vulnerable to diseases such as influenza, pneumococcal infections, and hepatitis.The inauguration of the clinic took place on Nov 10, coinciding with World Immunisation Day under the leadership of Prof Ashok Puranik, executive director of AIIMS Guwahati. He described the clinic as a unique addition to the region, aligning with this year’s theme “Immunisation for All is Humanly Possible.”Prof Puranik said the concept of the clinic emerged from the need to tackle vaccine-preventable diseases among adults, an often overlooked area in India’s public health landscape.

He said while the universal immunisation programme has successfully targeted children and pregnant women, adult vaccination coverage remains insufficient. “Adults continue to be vulnerable to diseases such as influenza, pneumococcal infections, hepatitis, HPV-related cancers, and tetanus,” he said.According to doctors, with rising life expectancy and the growing burden of chronic diseases, there is an urgent need to institutionalise preventive vaccination services for adults.

The clinic aims to provide easy access to adult vaccines, raise awareness about immunisation beyond childhood, and integrate vaccination into preventive and occupational health frameworks.The facility will cater to adults over 18, senior citizens above 60, people with comorbidities such as diabetes, COPD, cancer, and renal diseases, as well as healthcare workers, institutional staff, high-risk occupational groups like laboratory personnel.The inauguration event was attended by Prof Brian Shunyu (medical s), Prof Bhupen Barman (HOD medicine), Prof Saswati Tripathy (HOD obstetrics and gynaecology), and Prof Unmona Borgohain Saikia (nursing principal).The clinic will also address the needs of special groups, such as immunocompromised people. Core vaccines offered include tetanus-diphtheria (Td), influenza, pneumococcal, hepatitis B, HPV, varicella, Japanese Encephalitis (based on regional risk), and others recommended nationally and internationally. Dr Md Jamil and Dr Rashmi Agarwalla, nodal officers of the clinic, stressed the importance of these vaccinations.

The clinic will operate in collaboration with other departments and remain open daily except Saturday.