Pfizer India, in collaboration with Bombay Hospital, has launched a Digital Adult Immunization Awareness Kiosk in Mumbai, stepping up efforts to put adult vaccination and preventive healthcare higher on the public health agenda.

 

The kiosk, launched at Bombay Hospital, is the first in a planned network of 30 digital awareness kiosks that Pfizer intends to roll out across healthcare institutions and physician partnerships in India. The initiative aims to reach more than 5 lakh adults over one year with information on vaccine-preventable diseases and the role of immunization in healthier ageing.

 

The launch comes as India undergoes a major demographic shift. The country’s population aged 60 years and above is projected to rise from around 153 million in 2022 to approximately 347 million by 2050.

 

As the population ages, the need to strengthen preventive healthcare across adulthood is expected to grow, particularly as age-related changes in immune function and underlying health conditions can increase vulnerability to vaccine-preventable infections.

 

Designed as a self-education touchpoint within healthcare settings, the digital kiosk provides information on vaccine-preventable diseases including pneumococcal disease, influenza and shingles. It also includes a risk-assessment tool that allows individuals to better understand potential risk factors and use the information as a starting point for conversations with their healthcare professionals.

 

“Healthy aging is an important part of building a stronger India – where prevention and immunization have a meaningful role in helping people live healthier and more active lives as they age. At Pfizer, we are committed to advancing science and strengthening awareness around vaccine-preventable diseases. 

 

"Through our collaboration with Bombay Hospital, we aim to make credible information on adult immunization more accessible and support informed conversations between individuals and their healthcare professionals. This initiative is an important step in strengthening the focus on prevention across adulthood," said Pankaj Gupta, Head – Medical Affairs, Pfizer India.

 

Dr Rajkumar Patil, Director Medical Services, Bombay Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, said the initiative could help bring adult immunization into more routine healthcare conversations.

 

“Preventive healthcare is an important part of ensuring better health outcomes across adulthood. At Bombay Hospital, we recognize the need to make credible information on adult immunization available, so people are encouraged to discuss appropriate preventive measures with their healthcare professionals. 

 

"We are glad to be the first healthcare institution in this collaboration with Pfizer that brings together our healthcare expertise and Pfizer’s experience in vaccines to create a platform that can help educate people on the go. We are pleased to support this initiative and look forward to its expansion across healthcare institutions”.

 

Adult immunization remains significantly underutilized in India. A nationally representative study involving more than 64,000 adults aged 45 years and older found reported uptake below 2% for each of the influenza, pneumococcal, typhoid and hepatitis B vaccines studied. Uptake was reported at just 1.5% for influenza and 0.6% for pneumococcal vaccination.

 

The figures point to a persistent gap in adult preventive healthcare, particularly among older adults and people living with chronic conditions.

 

Vaccination in India has traditionally been associated more strongly with childhood.

 

The initiative focuses on adults aged 50 years and above, as well as people with underlying conditions such as COPD, asthma and other chronic lung diseases, cardiovascular disease, kidney or liver disease, diabetes, and conditions associated with weakened immunity.

 

The broader objective is to make adult immunization a more visible part of routine preventive healthcare—and move the conversation from childhood vaccination towards protection across the lifespan.