vReception is among the handiest and cost-effective public well being measures and saves hundreds of thousands of lives. India’s Common Vaccination Program (UIP) is the biggest on the earth, vaccinating infants 2.6 crores and pregnant ladies 2.9 crores every year. In accordance with the Pattern Registration System 2021, it contributed to a lower in mortality charges for beneath 45 per 1,000 births from 2014 to 2021.
UIP presents free vaccinations for 12 ailments. That is 11 vaccines nationwide, one in their very own area. Over the previous decade, six vaccines for tetanus and grownup diphtheria, inactivated poliovirus, measles-rubera, rotavirus, pneumococcal analogues, and Japanese encephalitis have been added to UIP throughout age teams.
India’s full vaccination charge was 62% in 2014 (Nationwide Household Well being Survey-4, 2015-16). To realize 90% protection, India launched Mission Indradash (MI) in 2014. In 2017, we launched an enhanced MI (IMI) program to strategically goal low-coverage areas and missed populations. By 2023, 12 phases of MI and IMI had been accomplished, vaccinating 5.46 youngsters and 1.32 pregnant ladies. The MI and IMI phases have been built-in into campaigns equivalent to Gram Swaraj Abhiyan and Prolonged Gram Swaraj Abhiyan to advertise outreach. Consequently, the vary of full vaccinations elevated in 2024-25.
Nevertheless, the problem stays to succeed in distant areas and migratory fowl populations, low-conscious clusters and vaccine-hesitant populations. Modern methods equivalent to “zero dorsal” outreach, digital monitoring and infrastructure enhancements are getting used.
Vaccine compensation
Since 2011, India has maintained its polio-free standing by means of steady rigorous surveillance. Classes realized from the Nationwide Polio programme have enhanced surveillance of UIP and vaccine-protectable ailments. India additionally achieved maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination in 2015, and was declared in 2016 as Yeo was not current.
Between 2017 and 2019, 34.8 trillion youngsters ages 9 months to fifteen had been vaccinated together with the introduction of the rubella vaccine into UIP by means of the nationwide Measles-Rubella catch-up marketing campaign. The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted each day vaccination companies and prompted set-offs to the earnings earned beneath the UIP. The outbreak of harmful measles between 2022 and 2024 indicated an immunity hole and affected massive clusters of unimmunized youngsters. In response, the 2023 IMI 5.0 is aimed toward youngsters beneath the age of 5 nationwide. Zero was launched to lift public consciousness about vaccinations because the measles elimination marketing campaign was launched in 2025. These efforts goal to exceed the 95% nationwide measles rubella vary and construct robust herd immunity.
Expertise Integration
India is prioritizing chilly chain logistics, strengthening the system by means of Pradhan Mantrya Yumanbharat Well being Infrastructure Mission, vaccine supply and vaccination utilizing the U-Win platform. Primarily based on Co-Win’s success, U-Win will allow end-to-end digital vaccinations, bringing vaccinations and monitoring for pregnant ladies and youngsters as much as 16 years previous. This permits for entry to vaccination companies anytime, wherever, particularly for migratory birds. Complementary digital applied sciences embody an digital vaccine intelligence community for vaccine shares, the Nationwide Chilly Chain Administration Info System for real-time chilly chain monitoring, and the Protected-VAC module for vaccine security reporting.
Through the Covid-19 pandemic, India has been on the forefront of vaccine improvement. The Covid-19 vaccination programme started on January 16, 2021, weeks after its world rollout. By January 2023, greater than $220 trillion doses had been administered, overlaying 97% of residents at a single dose and 90% at each doses, marking main public well being outcomes on the world stage. Regardless of strain from varied sectors, India was depending on home vaccine improvement and manufacturing capabilities.
With an energetic public-private partnership, India not solely meets the wants of the nation, but in addition helps many low- and middle-income international locations by means of the Vaccine Maitri Initiative, reflecting the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (World is One Household). India is at present the world’s largest vaccine manufacturing hub. The “Make in India” technique may change the longer term world vaccine panorama.
The outcomes of India’s vaccination over the previous decade are path-breaking and are globally acknowledged as a mannequin of emulation. On March 6, 2024, India obtained the Measles and Revera Champion Award from the Measles and Rubella Partnership, celebrating its efforts within the Southeast Asia area.
India has made outstanding advances in increasing vaccine protection, strengthening provide chains, strengthening surveillance and constructing public belief. Regardless of these achievements, high-quality, delicate illness surveillance and vaccination efforts should be intently linked, in addition to anti-vaccine narrative surveillance. One well being lens is required for vaccination and vaccine-protectable illness monitoring in preparation for the nation’s pandemic/epidemic. This implies nurturing present platforms and integrating joint monitoring of human, animal and environmental programs.
Printed – September 24, 2025 on 12:25
