HCMCT Manipal Hospital partners with Pfizer to launch adult vaccination centre in Delhi

New Delhi: HCMCT Manipal Hospital in Dwarka has teamed up with Pfizer India to establish a Centre of Excellence for adult vaccination, aimed at strengthening the delivery of vaccines for adults across various age groups. This collaboration addresses a critical gap in India, where vaccination efforts are typically focused on children, often neglecting the vital role of immunization for adults.

The Centre is designed to improve adult vaccination rates for a wide range of vaccine-preventable diseases, including Pneumococcal disease, Influenza, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and Hepatitis A and B. With 95% of vaccine-preventable disease deaths occurring in adults, the initiative targets high-risk individuals, including those with chronic health conditions such as COPD, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and liver cirrhosis. Those with additional risk factors, including smoking, pollution exposure, or individuals over 50 years of age, will benefit from enhanced access to vaccines and preventive healthcare guidance at the Centre.

Dr. Ankita Baidya, Consultant for Infectious Diseases at HCMCT Manipal Hospital, emphasized, “Adult vaccination is a cornerstone of preventive medicine. This adult vaccination centre will play an important role in promoting adult vaccine awareness, addressing hesitancy, and ensuring equitable access to life-saving vaccines, ultimately strengthening the public health infrastructure. Expanding adult vaccination in India can help reduce disease burden, protect vulnerable populations, and bring in herd immunity.”

Hospital Director, Viji Varghese highlighted, “With this centre, we will provide vaccination services for adults to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases in India. This reflects our commitment towards delivering comprehensive care and transforming public health through innovation, awareness, and accessibility to create a healthier future for everyone.”

Dr. Santosh Taur, Director of Medical Affairs at Pfizer Vaccines, added, “Our collaboration with Manipal Hospital reinforces our dedication to preventive health by expanding access to adult vaccinations, ensuring robust protection against prevalent vaccine-preventable diseases, particularly respiratory infections. The establishment of this Centre aims to provide healthcare practitioners and patients with critical information necessary for informed healthcare decisions, particularly regarding immunization.”

In addition to offering vaccinations, the Centre will focus on patient education, counseling, and capacity-building efforts. Training modules and access to guidelines and protocol recommendations for adult vaccination will be available, further enhancing the initiative’s long-term impact on public health.