S. Vishnu Sharma
GIM has launched a national project to improve Adult Vaccination (AV) uptake in India.
There is more to it than meets the eye as far as this initiative of GIM (Goa Institute of Management) is concerned.
This initiative marks a significant step toward safeguarding the health of its ageing and high-risk populations.
Professors from GIM
Led by Prof. Ajay Vamadevan and Prof. Praveen Pradeep from GIM, the project brings together government agencies, research institutions, state health departments, and medical professional bodies, to identify evidence and regulatory gaps, and other provider and beneficiary level barriers that hinder the uptake of AV.
Medical research evidence
Medical Research evidence shows that adults with chronic comorbid conditions – such as Cardiovascular diseases, Diabetes, Cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – as well as individuals who are immunocompromised or have received organ transplants, are at higher risk of severe illness from Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPDs) including Influenza, Pneumonia, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, B, Herpes Zoster), say sources from GIM.
Roadmap
Furthermore, recognising variations in chronic disease burden and health system preparedness across states, the project prioritises vaccines for high-burden states such as Goa, Kerala, Punjab, and Delhi.
This approach generates actionable insights on which vaccines and target groups should be prioritised first, thereby laying the foundation for a national roadmap.
National effort
Highlighting the critical need for a coordinated national effort for AV, Professor Ajay Vamadevan of GIM, said, “Coverage of essential adult vaccines (influenza, pneumococcal, typhoid, hepatitis B) remains below 2% nationally.
There is an urgent need to develop state-specific strategies for AV in India, given the wide variation in the chronic disease burden and ageing population across Indian states, said Prof Ajay.
National workshop
As a part of this AV initiative, the institution in collaboration with the Directorate of Health Services, Goa, hosted a National Consultation Workshop on Adult Vaccination Prioritization in India at the International Centre, Panaji, Goa.
National experts and representatives from Kerala, Punjab, Delhi and specialist doctors from Goa Medical College (GMC) and State Health Department have attended the workshop.
Inauguration
During her inaugural address, Dr. Rupa Naik, Director of Health Services, Goa said Goa has long been a model for national health initiatives, and hosting this landmark event is both an honour and a responsibility – positioning the state as a torchbearer in setting priorities for adult vaccination in India.
Key deliberations
Key deliberations at the workshop focused on reviewing evidence, incorporating diverse stakeholder perspectives, and conducting a structured prioritization exercise to recommend adult vaccines for short-, medium and long-term adoption in India.
This consultation represented a significant step in the country’s efforts to develop a comprehensive and inclusive immunization strategy that extends beyond childhood vaccination, aligns with global best practices, and addresses the growing burden of vaccine-preventable diseases among vulnerable adults.
Participation
Senior officials from state health departments, members of the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI), leading clinicians, researchers, and public health experts participated in the one-day workshop to make it a success.
About Goa Institute of Management
Located in the serene North Goa district, Goa Institute of Management is one of India’s leading business schools.
Established in 1993 with a vision to transform management education through sustainability, innovation, and ethics, the Institute offers a vibrant academic environment guided by its core values of responsible leadership and societal impact.
The Institute offers four full-time PGDM programs approved by AICTE, with specialisations in Healthcare Management, Big Data Analytics, and Banking, Insurance & Financial Services — all accredited by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA).
Additionally, the Institute has collaborated with Nova School of Business and Economics, Portugal, to offer a prestigious International Double Degree in Analytics (IDA).
GIM also offers a PGDM (Hybrid) program for working professionals, a Fellow Programme in Management, a Fellow Programme in Management (Non-residential) for those aspiring to academic and research careers, and Management Development Programmes.
The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has recognised GIM’s Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) program as equivalent to an MBA degree.
GIM has officially received accreditation from the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the Business Graduates Association (BGA), two of the world’s leading authorities on business education.
Additionally, it is the first higher education institution globally to integrate Social, Emotional, and Ethical (SEE) Learning into its academic curriculum.
With more than 85 full-time faculty members and over 6,500 alumni, GIM has a strong network of global academic and industry connections.
In recognition of its growing global reputation, GIM’s PGDM-Hybrid program was ranked among the Top 7 Executive MBA programs in India and 30th in the Asia Pacific region by the QS Executive MBA Rankings 2025.
The institution is also ranked 43 under the Management category of Ministry of Education’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025.
In addition to the prestigious South Asian Quality Assurance System (SAQS) accreditation, the Institute has also gained a position among the Top 7 Global Business Schools in the Positive Impact Rating (PIR) 2023 for its commitment to ethics and sustainability in business education.
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