Abstract Introduction: Adult immunisation is often overlooked in India, despite rising life expectancy and susceptibility to vaccine-preventable diseases. Medical students, as future healthcare providers, can play a vital role in promoting adult vaccination. Materials and Methods: A study was conducted amongst 119 MBBS students selected by simple random sampling. A pre-tested questionnaire assessed their sociodemographic details, knowledge, attitude and vaccination status for ten adult vaccines. Data were analysed using SPSS. Results: Only 52.1% of students demonstrated complete knowledge of the hepatitis B vaccine. Awareness of cholera (3.2%) and zoster (5%) vaccines was low. While 68% believed adult immunisation is underestimated, misconceptions regarding side effects (62.1%) and cost (84%) were prevalent. Hepatitis B coverage was highest (80.7%), whereas cholera (8.8%) and human papillomavirus (19% among females) were lowest. Lack of awareness (41%) and absence of a clear schedule (40%) were key barriers. Conclusion: Major gaps exist in knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding adult immunisation. Integration of adult vaccination education into medical curriculum and institutional policies is urgently needed.
Hashmi et al. (Fri,) studied this question.