What is National Immunization Program / Vaccination?
Historical Background
Key Points
10 points- 1.
Target Diseases: Protects against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases including Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella, severe forms of Childhood Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Meningitis and Pneumonia due to Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Rotavirus diarrhoea, Japanese Encephalitis, and Pneumococcal Pneumonia.
- 2.
Beneficiaries: All children up to 16 years of age and pregnant women across the country.
- 3.
Vaccine Schedule: Provides a standardized, age-appropriate schedule for administering various vaccines from birth.
- 4.
Free of Cost: All vaccines under the UIP are provided free of cost at government health facilities.
- 5.
Infrastructure: Utilizes a vast network of health workers, Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), and district hospitals for vaccine delivery.
- 6.
Cold Chain Management: Ensures proper storage and transport of vaccines at required temperatures to maintain potency.
- 7.
Outreach Sessions: Conducts regular immunization sessions in communities, often with the help of ASHA and Anganwadi workers, to improve accessibility.
- 8.
Mission Indradhanush: A special drive to achieve full immunization coverage in areas with low coverage and among unvaccinated/partially vaccinated children.
- 9.
Digital Tracking: Uses platforms like the U-Win portal for real-time tracking of vaccination status, due dates, and program management.
- 10.
New Vaccine Introduction: Continuous introduction of new and effective vaccines, such as the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) and Rotavirus Vaccine, into the routine immunization program.
Visual Insights
Evolution of India's Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)
This timeline highlights the significant milestones in India's immunization journey, from its inception to the introduction of new vaccines and digital tracking systems, up to December 2025.
India's immunization program has evolved significantly, expanding its scope, improving coverage, and leveraging technology to protect children and pregnant women from vaccine-preventable diseases.
- 1978Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) launched.
- 1985EPI transformed into Universal Immunization Programme (UIP).
- 1995Pulse Polio Immunization Programme launched.
- 2014Mission Indradhanush launched to boost full immunization coverage.
- 2014India declared Polio-free by WHO.
- 2015Rotavirus Vaccine introduced in a phased manner.
- 2016Measles-Rubella (MR) Vaccine introduced.
- 2017Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) introduced in a phased manner.
- 2023U-Win portal pilot project launched for digital immunization records.
- 2025Nationwide rollout of U-Win portal; Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) campaigns ongoing.
Recent Developments
6 developmentsNationwide rollout of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), directly relevant to pneumonia prevention, in a phased manner.
Launch of the U-Win portal for digital vaccination records and enhanced program management, building on the success of Co-WIN.
Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) campaigns to reach every unvaccinated or partially vaccinated child and pregnant woman.
India's successful eradication of Polio, a major achievement of the immunization program.
The crucial role of immunization in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, further highlighting the importance of vaccines.
Focus on addressing vaccine hesitancy and improving last-mile delivery challenges.