Medical experts at a virtual media roundtable organized by Pfizer have stressed that vaccines are not just for kids, that adults need vaccines too.

They said even if fully vaccinated as a child, adults may be at risk for other diseases due to age, job, lifestyle, travel, or a health condition.

Professor Olufunke Olayinka Adeyeye, a Consultant Physician at the Lagos State University College of Medicine Ikeja Lagos and Dr. Ogugua Osi-Ogbu, Chief Consultant and Head of Geriatrics Unit at the National Hospital Abuja stressed the importance of adult vaccination in order to prevent diseases in older people as they also explored adult pneumococcal disease, emphasised the challenges and gaps in adult vaccination.

They said these individuals have a decreased immunological response when they are exposed to infections.

Kodjo Soroh, Medical Director, Sub-Saharan Africa, Pfizer, said, “Pfizer has a long history in vaccine research and development. Through the development of innovative delivery systems and technologies, we have created scalable solutions that address prevention of deadly bacterial infections.

“The key to maintaining and building on these advances is constant vigilance and continued access to immunizations which is essential to preserving the progress we have made against vaccine-preventable conditions and strengthening our ability to address emerging health threats.”

Professor Adeyeye, while speaking said “A systematic review of infections in individuals older than 65 years found that coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, were all associated with significantly higher risk of acquiring pneumococcal infections”

 Dr. Osi-Ogbu, stated that, “Pneumococcal disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults. Many high-income countries recommend pneumococcal vaccination in older adults but, even where policies are in place, coverage is often low. Very few low and/or mid-income countries currently provide pneumococcal vaccination to older adults as a part of a routine programme.”

She said vaccine preventable diseases are infectious diseases caused by viruses or bacteria that can be prevented with vaccines.

“Vaccines don’t just protect you. They protect those around you, too. Vaccines protect individuals against specific diseases, but they also help those who have not had the vaccine by creating “herd immunity”. This protects people vulnerable to the disease, such as babies too young to be vaccinated, people undergoing chemotherapy, the elderly, and people who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons,” she added.