Spurt in demand for non-COVID vaccines in Kolkata

Kolkata: Most private hospitals in Kolkata have seen a spurt in the number of non-COVID adult immunisations, which, doctors say, is a result of increased awareness about vaccines due to COVID.

Some hospitals have seen a 70-80 per cent rise in non-COVID vaccinations over the last six months. The most frequently taken are the yearly influenza vaccine and the pneumonia vaccine which is taken once in five years.

At Peerless Hospital, the number of influenza and pneumonia shots has gone up by 30 per cent during the first four months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2019. The over-the-counter sale of these vaccines have increased as well, said CEO Sudipta Mitra. “COVID shots have led to an awareness about the benefits of vaccines. Ever since Covid vaccines ran out of stock, we have been flooded with enquiries about influenza vaccines in particular. We have seen a 30 per cent rise in the number of shots, apart from a sharp rise in OTC sales,” said Mitra.

While previously doctors had to counsel elderly patients with comorbidities to go for an influenza or pneumonia vaccine, the latter are now eager to take them, said Belle Vue Clinic cardiologist and medical coordinator Saurabh Kole. “People have realized the efficacy of vaccines due to the COVID experience. Now, patients are eager to take the non-COVID vaccines,” added Kole.

At CMRI Hospital, there has been a 50 per cent rise in non-COVID vaccinations over the last six months. “There has been a sharp rise in vaccinations. On the other hand, people are also wary of the side-effects of vaccines. We have been telling them that the benefits far outweighs the risks and COVID vaccines have demonstrated that,” said CMRI Hospital pulmonology director Raja Dhar.

Enquiries have been pouring in at AMRI, which is not vaccinating now. “We plan to collaborate with a pharmaceutical company soon and promote non-Covid vaccines that now have more takers,” said AMRI CEO Rupak Barua.

Medica Superspecialty Hospital has administered approximately 38-40 influenza vaccines and 45-50 pneumonia vaccines per month since January. “Post-COVID, more people are taking vaccines and numbers have gone up by 70-80 per cent,” said Ayanabh Deb Gupta, co-founder & joint managing director of Medica. Charnock Hospital has seen a rise in demand for vaccines as well. “It is steadily going up and we are encouraging the trend,” said MD Prashant Sharma.