Chandigarh,02-03-2026-The 53rd Annual National Conference of Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (IAPSMCON2026) was held in the State of the Art, NAMO Medical Education and Research Institute, Silvassa from 27th February to 1st March 2026.

Dr. Madhu Gupta, Professor, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh received the most prestigious Dhanwantary Oration on the topic ‘Marching Towards Viksit Bharat 2047: Contribution of Vaccines from Development to Effectiveness’ from the *Honourable Sh Praful Patel ji, Honourable Administrator Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Lakashdweep.

Vaccines will play a decisive role in India’s journey toward becoming a developed nation by 2047, said Dr. Madhu Gupta, Professor at School of Public Health, PGIMER Chandigarh, while delivering the prestigious Dhanvantari Oration at IAPSMCON 2026. In her address she emphasized that immunization is not merely a public health intervention but a powerful driver of economic growth, poverty reduction, and social equity. She highlighted India’s remarkable progress under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), which has expanded from four vaccines in 1978 to twelve vaccines by 2026. The country has successfully eliminated smallpox, polio, and neonatal tetanus, while DPT3 coverage improved from 58% in 2000 to 94% in 2024. Significant declines in neonatal, infant, and under-five mortality rates further reflect the impact of sustained immunization efforts. Referring to India’s COVID-19 vaccination drive as a defining moment, Dr. Gupta noted the rapid development of indigenous vaccines, large-scale rollout, and global outreach through Mission Maitri. Digital platforms such as CoWIN and U-WIN strengthened vaccine delivery and transparency. She also outlined PGIMER’s contributions in vaccine trials, safety surveillance, cost-effectiveness research, and national policy advocacy, including work on rotavirus, typhoid, measles-rubella, HPV, and adult immunization guidelines. Dr. Gupta concluded by calling for a life-course approach to immunization, stronger adult vaccination programs, and integration of Artificial Intelligence in vaccine development. “Vaccines are instruments of social justice and national resilience. Sustained investment in immunization is essential to achieve Viksit Bharat 2047,” she said.