Vaccination coverage among older adults: a population-based study in India

To estimate the prevalence and explore the predictors of vaccine uptake among older adults in India.

We used data from the national Longitudinal Ageing Study in India, a national household survey conducted during 2017-2018. Based on interviewees' self-reports, we calculated population-weighted estimates of the uptake of influenza, pneumococcal, typhoid and hepatitis B vaccines among 64 714 Indian adults aged 45 years or older. We performed multivariable binary logistic regression analysis to examine the sociodemographic and health-related predictors of uptake of the vaccinations.

The coverage of each of the studied vaccinations was less than 2%. The estimated percentages of respondents reporting ever being vaccinated were 1.5% (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.4-1.6) for influenza, 0.6% (95% CI: 0.6-0.7) for pneumococcal disease, 1.9% (95% CI: 1.8-2.0) for typhoid and 1.9% (95% CI: 1.8-2.0) for hepatitis B. Vaccine uptake was higher among respondents with cardiovascular disease, diabetes or lung disease than those without any of these conditions. Uptake of influenza vaccine was higher among those with lung disease, while hepatitis B vaccine uptake was higher among those with cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Male sex, urban residence, wealthier household, more years of schooling, existing medical conditions and sedentary behaviours were significant predictors of vaccine uptake.

Targeted policies and programmes are needed for improving the low vaccination coverage among older adults in India, especially among those with chronic diseases. Further research could examine vaccine access, vaccine hesitancy, and vaccine-related information and communication channels to older adults and their health-care providers.