Vaccination is one of the greatest public health achievements of our time. It protects children from life-threatening diseases and contributes to the overall health of communities by reducing the spread of infections. As parents, staying informed about your child’s vaccination schedule is crucial for their long-term well-being.
Here’s a quick guide to the most important vaccines your child needs, according to national and global immunization programs.
| VACCINE | DISEASES PREVENTED | SCHEDULE
(AGE) |
DOSE | ROUTE |
| BCG | Tuberculosis | At birth | 0.1 mL (intradermal) | Left upper arm |
| HEPATITIS B (BIRTH DOSE) | Hepatitis B | At birth (within
24 hours) |
0.5 mL | Intramuscular |
| OPV (ORAL POLIO VACCINE) | Polio | Birth, 6, 10, 14 weeks + boosters | 2 drops (oral) | Oral |
| PENTAVALENT (DPT+HEPB+HIB) | Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hep B, Hib | 6, 10, 14 weeks | 0.5 mL | Intramuscular |
| IPV (INACTIVATED POLIO VACCINE) | Polio | 6 & 14 weeks | 0.5 mL | Intramuscular |
| ROTAVIRUS VACCINE | Diarrhea (rotavirus) | 6, 10, 14 weeks | 5 drops (oral) | Oral |
| PCV (PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINE) | Pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis | 6, 14 weeks; booster at 9 months | 0.5 mL | Intramuscular |
| MR (MEASLES, MUMPS RUBELLA) | Measles, Mumps Rubella | 9 months and
16–24 months |
0.5 mL | Subcutaneous |
| JE (JAPANESE ENCEPHALITIS) | Japanese Encephalitis
(in endemic areas) |
9 months and
16–24 months |
0.5 mL | Subcutaneous |
| DPT BOOSTER-1 | Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus | 16–24 months | 0.5 mL | Intramuscular |
| OPV BOOSTER | Polio | 16–24 months | 2 drops | Oral |
| VITAMIN A SUPPLEMENTATION | Vitamin A Deficiency | Starting at 9 months, then every 6 months (till 5 years) | 1 mL (1 lakh IU), then 2 mL | Oral |
| DPT BOOSTER-2 | Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus | 5–6 years | 0.5 mL | Intramuscular |
| TT (TETANUS TOXOID) | Tetanus | 10 & 16 years | 0.5 mL | Intramuscular |
| COVID-19 VACCINE | SARS-CoV-2 | As per MoHFW/WHO guidelines | As advised | IM/Oral/Nasal |