Zydus Life Sciences Limited,an innovation led global life sciences Company held a health Symposium at Bengaluru to create a convergence of leading health care professionals who spoke on the transition to new influenza vaccination guideline,as recommended by World Health Organisation (WHO) for northern hemisphere 2025-26. Global influenza remains a significant public health concern,causing an estimated 4,00,000 respiratory and 3,00,000 deaths across the world annually. In US & Europe almost 50% of the population is vaccinated for seasonal flu annually.India which successfully leads the universal immunization programme(UIP) ,has been able to counter several debilitating childhood vaccine preventable diseases.
Dr.Sharvil Patel,Managing Director,Zydus Life Sciences Limited said," Good health starts with prevention, and vaccines play a key role in protecting people & improving health.Influenza continues to pose a recurring challenge ,leading to seasonal outbreaks and placing a considerable burden on health care systems.Vaccination plays a vital role in reducing the spread of infection,lowering the severity of disease,& preventing complications,especially among high risk & vulnerable groups."National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC),India has recommended to follow the WHO guidelines to adopt the latest strain of the vaccine,to prevent influenza and influenza-like illnesses which is emerging a serious health concern.The disease disproportionately affects vulnerable populations such as infants,the elderly and individuals with chronic conditions.
In India influenza infections occur seasonaly with twin peaks during the monsoon & winter seasons.This necessitates annual vaccinations of the nationally defined target groups with vaccine composition depending on the current circulating strains. At the moment,administering vaccination for influenza is not mandatory & the experts recommend that it is advisable that the target groups get vaccinated for influenza every year.
