Handbook on Adolescent and Adult Immunization

With the high immunization coverage of childhood vaccines in the National Immunization Schedule, we have virtually controlled and eliminated vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) such as diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and measles and eradicated dreaded crippling poliomyelitis in India. So much so, adolescents and adults who missed their childhood shots of vaccines meant to prevent these VPDs are at greater risk of complications in case they contract these infections due to a "shift to the right" phenomenon of infectious diseases, and may meet with fatal outcome including death. Therefore, there is a greater need now than ever before to offer catch up and adolescent specific vaccines for the adolescent and adult age group by providing these childhood vaccines to them. Hence, the National Immunization Schedule should henceforth concentrate on the newly registered adolescent and possibly adult vaccines in future. Practicing pediatricians and family physicians need to concentrate to provide these vaccines to their adolescent and adult clients. With the objective of providing the needed information in concise manner, the contents of this book have been designed to help practitioners in their office practice.