Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Oct 5: Influenza, often dismissed as a routine seasonal illness, continues to cause widespread hospitalisations and deaths globally — and India is no exception. Recent outbreaks have highlighted the virus’s unpredictable nature, with both influenza B and H3N2 strains driving successive waves across the country during 2024–2025.
Experts now say India’s current once-a-year flu vaccination strategy is inadequate. Surveillance data show that influenza in India has two distinct peaks — one in the winter months (January–March) and another after the monsoon (July–September). However, because flu vaccine protection fades within three to six months, large sections of the population remain unprotected during one of these cycles.
“The short-lived immunity of flu vaccines means a single annual dose cannot safeguard against both waves,” explained paediatrician Dr Vipin M. Vashishtha, Director of Mangla Hospital and Research Center, Bijnor. “A biannual vaccination schedule — one dose before the monsoon and another before winter — would provide continuous protection.”
Currently, less than 5% of Indians receive flu vaccines, despite their availability for over a decade. Public indifference, lack of awareness, and absence of government policy support have all contributed to low coverage. The vaccine is not part of the Universal Immunisation Program (UIP) and remains largely confined to the private sector.
Dr Puneet Kumar, clinician at Kumar Child Clinic, New Delhi, noted that including influenza vaccination in the UIP could be a “turning point” for India. “With our strong vaccine manufacturing capacity, we can make flu shots affordable and widely available. Government backing and awareness campaigns can normalise flu vaccination in the public mindset,” he said.
Experts believe that a biannual flu vaccination policy, if implemented, could drastically reduce the number of influenza-related cases, hospitalisations, and deaths — especially among children and the elderly — making India’s fight against the seasonal virus far more effective.