Hepatitis A Vaccine Deserves Urgent Priority Over Typhoid in India

As of November 14th, 2025, India is debating the inclusion of the typhoid conjugate vaccine in its Universal Immunisation Programme. However, experts argue that Hepatitis A, a growing cause of acute liver failure, deserves even greater priority.

In recent years, multiple Hepatitis A outbreaks across India have underscored the shifting disease pattern. Improved sanitation and hygiene have left many adolescents and adults unprotected, leading to severe illness. Seroprevalence studies reveal a steady decline in protective antibodies, resulting in a growing pool of susceptible young people.

The good news is that Hepatitis A is entirely preventable. India has its own indigenous success story - Biological E's Biovac-A, a live-attenuated vaccine developed domestically, has been used in the private sector for over two decades with excellent safety and efficacy records. Unlike typhoid vaccines, Hepatitis A vaccines do not face issues of waning immunity, antibiotic resistance, or carrier states.

When judged by factors like disease burden, vaccine efficacy, durability, cost-effectiveness, and programmatic simplicity, the balance tilts decisively toward Hepatitis A. Experts argue that India could begin by introducing Hepatitis A vaccination in states that have experienced repeated outbreaks or show declining antibody prevalence, using the same infrastructure as existing boosters.

The tools are ready, the evidence is strong, and the need is urgent. The time for India to prioritize Hepatitis A vaccination is now.