GSK Urges Stronger Shingles Prevention as India’s Ageing Population Faces Rising Health Risks

As India ages and chronic illnesses rise, experts urge stronger awareness around adult immunization to prevent avoidable pain and complications.

Shingles may begin as a rash, but for many adults, it brings intense, life-disrupting pain. Yet prevention of the disease rarely features in routine healthcare discussions, especially among people already living with chronic illnesses.

Pharmaceutical major GSK is now calling for greater focus on adult immunization in India, highlighting findings from a global survey it commissioned. The results reveal a troubling gap between risk and awareness.

Shingles is caused by the reactivation of the same virus that causes chickenpox. It tends to strike older adults and those with weakened immune systems, particularly people managing conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disorders, and chronic lung problems.

“India is living longer but not necessarily healthier,” said Shalini Menon, Executive Vice-President (Medical Affairs), GSK India. She pointed out that as life expectancy increases; more adults are developing chronic diseases that gradually weaken immunity, making them more vulnerable to infections like shingles.

The survey found that 43% of Indian respondents who had shingles experienced severe, day-disrupting pain. More than one in three said it affected their ability to work or attend social events. Patients with kidney and cardiovascular diseases reported the highest disruption.

GSK introduced its two-dose shingles vaccine in India in 2023 for adults aged 50 and above. While adult vaccination is still evolving in the country, experts believe prevention must become part of routine chronic disease management.

With India’s ageing population on the rise, integrating shingles prevention into regular healthcare could help reduce avoidable suffering and long-term medical costs, before the pain even begins.