Stepping into 2026, many families set goals for healthy eating, regular exercise, and better stress management. However, there is an important piece of family health care that is often forgotten: vaccination for adults. Many people still think that vaccines are only for children. In fact, as age increases, the immune system gradually weakens, and the risk of infection and complications from infectious diseases is higher than ever.
According to Dr. Syamasis Bandyopadhyay, a specialist in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology, currently working at Apollo Hospital, Kolkata (India), vaccination for adults is one of the important pillars of disease prevention but is underestimated in many Asian families, where many generations live together.
When infection is no longer a minor matter
The first reason why adult vaccination needs to be prioritized is the risk of serious illness and reduced self-reliance. Diseases that seem familiar, such as seasonal flu, can have serious consequences in people over 65 years old or people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
“Just one flu episode can cause prolonged fatigue, shortness of breath, and reduced mobility in older adults for many weeks. This increases dependence on children and grandchildren and greatly affects the quality of life,” Dr. Bandyopadhyay analyzed. The flu virus changes annually, so periodic vaccination helps reduce the risk of hospitalization, maintain independent living, and stabilize family rhythms.
Multi-generational family: advantages and also risks
The second reason is strongly family-oriented: infectious diseases can spread silently in the house. In families of many generations, very ordinary contacts such as holding grandchildren, sharing bowls and chopsticks, sitting close to each other... can all become paths to infection.
A mild infection in adults is sometimes dangerous for infants, pregnant women or elderly people with weak immunity. Dr. Bandyopadhyay cited an example of zona: zona itself is not contagious, but the virus causing the disease can transmit to unimmunized people, causing chickenpox, especially dangerous for young children.
Vaccination for adults creates an invisible protection loop, not only for themselves but also for the weaker relatives in the family," he emphasized.
When chronic disease becomes more severe due to infection
The third reason is that infections exacerbate chronic diseases. People living with diabetes, asthma, and heart disease have already had to strictly control their medications and lifestyle. A flu or herpes zoster can disrupt that stability, cause blood sugar fluctuations, worsen asthma attacks, or increase the risk of cardiovascular events.
Studies show that infection increases systemic inflammation, making chronic diseases more difficult to control. According to Dr. Bandyopadhyay, full vaccination helps reduce the risk of infection, thereby limiting complications, reducing the number of hospitalizations and helping patients maintain a normal life for a long time.
In the context of increasing antibiotic resistance, prevention rather than cure is no longer a slogan but a survival strategy. Before 2026, each family should actively discuss with doctors about vaccines suitable for age, health status and lifestyle. One injection today can be peace for the whole family for many years to come.
It's a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit.
