Immunisation Schedule
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Direct answer
India's National Immunisation Schedule, delivered free under the Universal Immunisation Programme (launched 1985), now protects against twelve vaccine-preventable diseases. The current card runs: BCG, OPV-0 and hepatitis B birth dose at birth; pentavalent, OPV, rotavirus, fractional IPV and PCV through 6, 10 and 14 weeks; MR-1, JE-1 (endemic districts) and the first Vitamin A dose at 9 to 12 months; DPT booster-1, OPV booster, MR-2 and JE-2 at 16 to 24 months; DPT booster-2 at 5 to 6 years; and Td at 10 and 16 years.
What you must remember
- At birth: BCG 0.05 mL intradermally over the left upper arm, OPV-0 and the hepatitis B birth dose within 24 hours.
- 6, 10 and 14 weeks: pentavalent (DPT, hepatitis B, Hib) intramuscularly in the anterolateral thigh with OPV; rotavirus orally at all three visits.
- Fractional IPV: 0.1 mL intradermally at 6 and 14 weeks — a dose-sparing schedule.
- PCV: intramuscular at 6 and 14 weeks, with a booster at 9 to 12 months.
- 9 to 12 months: MR-1 subcutaneously, JE-1 in endemic districts only, and the first Vitamin A dose (1 lakh IU), followed by doses every six months up to 5 years.
- 16 to 24 months: DPT booster-1, OPV booster, MR-2 and JE-2 in endemic districts; DPT booster-2 at 5 to 6 years; Td at 10 and 16 years.
- Mission Indradhanush (2014) and its intensified rounds are catch-up drives for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children.
Common confusion
The National Immunisation Schedule is confused with the Indian Academy of Pediatrics immunisation timetable, which adds vaccines outside the UIP such as hepatitis A, typhoid conjugate, varicella, influenza and HPV for girls at 9 to 14 years, and uses MMR rather than MR alone. Within the UIP, remember that IPV appears only as two fractional intradermal doses in the current card, and that JE vaccine is restricted to endemic districts rather than given nationwide — statements that ignore these qualifiers are the usual trap options.
Exam-focused takeaway
Questions cluster on dose-age matching, site and route (BCG intradermal in the left arm, MR subcutaneous, pentavalent intramuscular in the thigh), the fractional IPV schedule, the number of doses of each antigen, and the Vitamin A schedule starting with MR-1. Trap options exploit the facts that JE vaccine is restricted to endemic districts and that rotavirus is oral while PCV is two primary doses plus a booster. In vivas, be ready to recite the full schedule and the cold chain needs of its vaccines.
Frequently asked questions
When is BCG given, and by which route?
At birth, 0.05 mL intradermally over the left upper arm; the dose is 0.1 mL after one month of age.
What is the fractional IPV schedule in India?
Two intradermal doses of 0.1 mL each at 6 and 14 weeks — dose-sparing priming instead of full intramuscular doses.
When and where is JE vaccine given under the UIP?
Only in Japanese encephalitis-endemic districts, subcutaneously at 9 to 12 months and again at 16 to 24 months.
Which vaccines are given at 16 to 24 months?
DPT booster-1, OPV booster, MR-2 and JE-2 in endemic districts, with a Vitamin A dose.
What is the Vitamin A supplementation schedule?
The first dose of 1 lakh IU with MR-1 at 9 months, then every six months up to 5 years — nine doses in all.
How does the IAP schedule differ from the national schedule?
The IAP timetable adds vaccines outside the UIP such as hepatitis A, varicella, typhoid conjugate and HPV, and uses MMR in place of MR.