Ahead of winter, why Delhi needs to vaccinate its grandparents alongside their grandchildren

The winter season in Delhi usually results in poor air quality, outbreaks of seasonal influenza, a heavy burden on hospitals and increasing medical expenses. Hidden within the yearly air quality reports is a health problem that is preventable, and yet costs the city’s citizens lakhs. Among the elderly, especially those who have diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease or a suppressed immune system, a viral infection can develop into bacterial pneumonia and require hospitalization. Industry estimates suggest that the average cost of a hospital stay is about ₹50,000, while intensive care can amount to ₹1 lakh. A single such incident can erase months’ worth of income and cause households relying on pensions and daily wages to slip down the income scale.