Vaccine Immunology — Potentially the Biggest Game Changer in Asian Healthcare

There is a common pearl of Indian wisdom that encourages parents to let their children play outside in the sun, rain, gardens and mud. The premise is that it allows children to grow closer to nature and natural elements, but it also helps them build immunity and become tough. In modern science, various medical research has reported the benefits of environmental exposure in early childhood for developing immunity.

Dr Simon Gallagher, General Manager India (interim), ICMEA, Growth And Emerging Markets Business Unit, Takeda, Singapore

There is a common pearl of Indian wisdom that encourages parents to let their children play outside in the sun, rain, gardens and mud. The premise is that it allows children to grow closer to nature and natural elements, but it also helps them build immunity and become tough. In modern science, various medical research has reported the benefits of environmental exposure in early childhood for developing immunity. Conceptually, natural exposure to certain types of common microbes, germs, and allergens contributes to immune development rather than an excessive hygiene lifestyle.

However, these immunity-building efforts are not enough for the millions of more potent and more infectious new and existing pathogens like Dengue and Zika virus that have till now gone under the radar. Historically, such viruses have caused considerable losses to life and the economy and continue to impact the world order today. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is the most definitive example of how a flu-like virus can wreak havoc in the world, and that’s where vaccine immunology comes in. After the two deadly COVID-19 waves, the awareness of adult immunisation has started to develop and as a result, the demand for adult vaccination, even for vaccines such as Hepatitis B soared.