Chickenpox, medically known as varicella, is a highly contagious viral infection primarily affecting children. While it's often considered a mild childhood illness, it can sometimes lead to serious complications and, in rare cases, become life-threatening.

Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a common respiratory illness that can be particularly severe for infants and young children. Their still-developing immune systems make them more vulnerable to complications, which can lead to serious health issues like pneumonia, hospitalisations, or even death. In fact, each year, around 20,000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalised due to complications from the influenza disease.

Seasonal flu, or influenza, is a contagious respiratory illness affecting billions of people worldwide each year. It can lead to mild or severe illness and, in some cases, can be fatal. While anyone can contract the flu, certain groups - including young children, the elderly, and individuals with preexisting health conditions or weakened immune systems - are at higher risk. In fact, most hospitalisations and deaths related to the flu disease occur within these high-risk populations.

Mumps, a contagious viral disease, can be a significant health concern for children. Despite being preventable through vaccination, outbreaks continue to occur especially in communities with low vaccination rates. In fact, mumps disease is endemic worldwide, with >500,000 cases reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) annually on average.

Did you know that approximately 1 in 3 people¹ will develop shingles in their lifetime? Shingles, a painful and often debilitating condition caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (the same virus that causes chickenpox²), poses significant health risks, especially to older adults and those with weakened immunity and chronic conditions³. Despite its prevalence, many people remain unaware of the risks associated with shingles and the measures they can take to prevent it.

Since 2009, ever since it was first detected in humans, swine Flu continues to circulate as a seasonal Flu virus across the country. Recent reports suggest rise in cases of Swine Flu (H1N1) in and around Maharashtra & cities across India.

Swine Flu (H1N1) is contagious and spreads from an infected person via coughing, sneezing, talking; or even spread through contaminated objects or surfaces.

If your child has missed one or more vaccinations, consult your pediatrician about catch-up vaccinations. The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) recommends a catch-up age range for children to ensure they are protected against diseases, even if they missed their recommended vaccination schedule.

Herpes zoster, often referred to as shingles, is an unbearably painful viral infection that can significantly impact a person's quality of life ^1#. This debilitating condition can disrupt sleep, work, and personal relationships, leading to physical discomfort and emotional distress ¹.

I was pretty much settled in my career when I and my husband finally decided to grow our family. Much like everything else we did for the first time, we both met Gynaecologists and Experts to understand the responsibilities of rearing a child before starting our parenting journey.

Lately, we’ve become more beholden to medical science. In a world combatting newer varieties of pathogens frequently, medical science has become a frontier for a healthy future. Even before the pandemic struck, medical science had made many disease outbreaks obsolete, with vaccinations administered to children at a young age that gave them immunity against several infections.

Covid-19 is disrupting immunization services across the globe, thereby putting the health of millions of children at risk.