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Chronic diseases account for nearly three-fourths of all global deaths. Experts say many of these deaths can be prevented, with lifestyle changes, timely diagnosis and management, and in many cases, preventive vaccination. While childhood vaccination has increased significantly, experts say, there are still few takers for adult vaccination. According to Lauriane Harrington, medical director, global medical affairs of GSK – one of the world’s leading biopharma companies – vaccines are available to prevent diseases like influenza, RSV, shingles and pneumococcal pneumonia but their uptake is low. RSV or Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms. However, Harrington said, it can lead to serious lung infections, especially in infants and older adults, whereas shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a painful condition caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus – the same virus that causes chickenpox. “Prevention is the best investment – for people, health systems, societies, and economies,” Kristina Ostertag, head of global communications and govt affairs, commercial vaccines at GSK, added. She was speaking at GSK’s Global Media Days at Wavre site in Belgium. “Vaccination is one of the most effective tools we have to protect older adults, yet adult immunisation remains under-prioritised,” Otavio Cintra, regional medical affairs Lead at GSK, said. He added that govts and health systems needed to integrate adult vaccination into broader public health strategies. GSK, he said, is also investing in next-generation vaccine technologies, including mRNA and MAPS platforms, to address evolving health threats.
