Indian Immunization Week: Why low awareness is keeping adults away from flu vaccination

Influenza is often dismissed as a mild, seasonal bug that clears up on its own. In reality, it can turn serious, especially for those already vulnerable. Children, older adults, pregnant women, people with long-term health conditions, and those with weak immunity are all at greater risk of complications that can lead to hospital admission. For healthcare workers too, who are exposed to the virus regularly, annual vaccination remains one of the simplest ways to stay protected. Yet in India, most adults still do not think of flu vaccination as something they need.

A wide gap in adult immunisation

The scale of this gap has become clearer thanks to India's first nationwide study of adult vaccination coverage, carried out by the National Sample Survey.

Also Read: After decades of waiting, India gets its first Dengue vaccine 

It found that barely 2 in 100 adults aged 18 and above had ever received an adult vaccine. Among those aged 60 and above, the group most likely to suffer severe complications from flu, coverage was even lower, at less than half a percent.

A separate multi-city study from 2026 painted a similar picture. It found that fewer than one in five adults above 60 had even heard of influenza as a disease, and only about 1 in 100 had ever been vaccinated against it. Low awareness, rather than lack of access, appears to be the bigger obstacle.

Confusion over fever holds people back

One recurring reason for missed vaccinations is confusion about fever. Many people believe they cannot be vaccinated if they currently have a fever, or if they have recently recovered from one. This uncertainty often leads to vaccinations being postponed indefinitely, or skipped altogether, leaving people without the protection they need going into flu season.

IMA steps in with clearer guidance

To close this knowledge gap, the Indian Medical Association set up an expert committee to review the scientific evidence and existing immunisation guidelines, both in India and internationally. The result is a set of practical, evidence-based recommendations aimed at helping doctors and other healthcare professionals decide when it is safe to vaccinate someone who has, or has recently had, a fever.

Also Read: Andropause and sex: Why low testosterone isn't the whole story behind low libido 

The central message is straightforward: a mild fever should generally not be a reason to delay vaccination. Only in cases of moderate to severe illness should vaccination be postponed until the person has recovered, mainly to avoid mixing up illness symptoms with any mild reactions that can follow vaccination. Crucially, the guidance stresses that any delay should not be open-ended. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to give patients a specific date to return for vaccination, rather than leaving it vague.

This guidance has been released as part of the inaugural Indian Immunization Week, running from 21 to 27 September, an initiative by the IMA with support from Abbott in India.

Dr Anilkumar J. Nayak, National President of the IMA, noted that uncertainty around fever is one of the most common reasons people miss or delay their flu shot, and that the new recommendations are meant to give healthcare professionals a clear, practical way to guide patients, particularly those at higher risk of flu complications.

Annual flu vaccination remains one of the most effective tools available to reduce the risk of severe illness and hospitalisation. It is recommended at every stage of pregnancy, offering protection to both mother and baby, and is especially important for children, the elderly, and those with chronic health conditions.

With awareness levels still low and vaccination coverage even lower, initiatives like Indian Immunization Week aim to do more than mark a calendar date.

Also Read: Suddenly allergic to meat? The strange story behind Alpha-gal syndrome 

By tackling practical doubts, such as whether fever should stand in the way of vaccination, the hope is that fewer people will fall through the cracks simply because of confusion that could easily be cleared up.