For many of us, the flu, or “flu,” is dismissed as a seasonal nuisance that causes fever, cough, and physique ache for every week earlier than disappearing. Nonetheless, influenza shouldn’t be innocent. All over the world, it’s a main reason behind respiratory ailments, hospitalizations and demise, particularly amongst youngsters, the aged, and other people with underlying medical circumstances.
In India, the flu burden is critical, however is commonly underestimated. The federal government tracks seasonal flu by means of a nationwide surveillance system, however the official focus stays totally on H1N1 strains (often known as “sow flu”). Nonetheless, not too long ago, the winter months of 2024-2025 noticed an surprising and severe outbreak of influenza B. And because the post-monsoon season unfolded, H3N2 strains spurred a brand new surge.
Two vaccine habits
Current surveillance information reveals that there are two totally different peaks within the influenza outbreak in India. It’s a few winter months (January to March) and a post-monsoon interval (July to September). This sample, together with the short-lived safety offered by present influenza vaccines, is compelled to contemplate whether or not present approaches to influenza vaccination are adequately protecting.
Influenza viruses are continuously present process genetic modifications generally known as antigen drift. They permit the physique to flee immune defenses and drive vaccines to be up to date often. In contrast to measles and polio vaccines, which offer long-term immunity, influenza vaccines provide solely reasonable safety and are reformulated yearly. All over the world, a number of strains of influenza, corresponding to H1N1, H3N2, and influenza B, flow into concurrently, making it extraordinarily troublesome to match vaccine strains with circulating viruses.
The 2 foremost forms of vaccines out there in India are the inactivated influenza vaccines administered by injection and the uncooked attenuated vaccines given as nasal sprays. Each varieties can cut back the danger of influenza, however their effectiveness varies tremendously relying on the pressure and vaccine age. Safety is often the strongest towards H1N1, reasonable towards influenza B, and weakest towards H3N2.
The principle concern with these vaccines is the restricted interval of safety. Antibody ranges improve after vaccination, peak inside just a few weeks, and steadily lower. Some research have proven that the vaccine’s effectiveness decreases considerably inside 3-6 months, with some proof suggesting that safety can fade virtually fully inside simply 90 days. In nations with a single flu season, this lower shouldn’t be a lot of an issue as annual doses timing throughout peak intervals can adequately shield individuals. Nonetheless, in India, the place the virus hits twice a 12 months, short-lived immunity leaves a big section of the weak inhabitants at its second peak.
Due to this fact, annual influenza vaccines don’t match the fact of India. The shot earlier than the monsoon was protected against the July-September outbreak, a lot of its immunity had pale by the point the winter waves arrived in January. Equally, pictures earlier than winter might shield individuals till March, however they will not be capable of face up to till the following monsoon season. So, irrespective of which dose is chosen, half of the flu burden within the 12 months has not been addressed.
Lower than 5%
The logical possibility is to introduce an annual flu vaccination schedule in India. Beneath this method, individuals obtain one dose simply earlier than the onset of a monsoon in Could or June, and one other dose in November or December previous to the winter waves. This strategy ensures extra constant safety throughout each peaks and dramatically reduces the variety of flu instances, hospitalizations, and deaths.
The thought of two flu pictures per 12 months could seem demanding, however well being advantages could also be vital, particularly for youngsters who account for the most important share of flu-related hospitalizations and deaths in India.
Regardless of the flu vaccines being out there for greater than a decade, lower than 5% of Indians obtain them. This lack of acceptance stems partially from the notion that influenza is a gentle sickness, which stems from a restricted public notion and partially from an absence of presidency coverage assist. Presently, the flu vaccine shouldn’t be a part of the Common Vaccination Program (UIP). As an alternative, they’re left to the non-public market and are sometimes thought-about choices. This indifference is shocking and costly for ailments that trigger extreme instances yearly.
Six-monthly vaccinations generally is a turning level if supported by authorities insurance policies. By together with it within the UIP, India was capable of leverage its sturdy home vaccine manufacturing capability to make the vaccine extra reasonably priced and accessible. Coupled with public consciousness campaigns, this type of transfer may elevate protection and normalize flu vaccinations within the minds of the general public.
Vipin M. Vashishtha is director and pediatrician at Bijnor’s Mangla Hospital and Analysis Middle. Puneet Kumar is a clinician at Kumar Little one Clinic in New Delhi.
Revealed – October 5, 2025 at 05:30 AM
