Know your child’s immunisation schedule

Immunisation is a process that is essential the healthy growth and life of your child. India, as all other countries has its own immunisation schedule and it is based on recommendations from the Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The vaccination schedules may be updated periodically, so it’s crucial to consult with a healthcare professional or refer to the latest guidelines for the most current information. Here is a general overview of the childhood immunisation schedule in India:

At Birth:

• • BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin): Protection against tuberculosis (TB).
  • Hepatitis B vaccine: To prevent hepatitis B infection.

At 6 Weeks:

• • Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) – First dose.
  • Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus (DPT) vaccine – First dose.
  • Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) – First dose.
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine – First dose.
  • Rotavirus vaccine – First dose (if available).

At 10 Weeks:

• • OPV – Second dose.
  • DPT vaccine – Second dose.
  • IPV – Second dose.
  • Hib vaccine – Second dose.
  • Rotavirus vaccine – Second dose (if available).

At 14 Weeks:

• • OPV – Third dose.
  • DPT vaccine – Third dose.
  • IPV – Third dose.
  • Hib vaccine – Third dose.
  • Rotavirus vaccine – Third dose (if available).

At 9 Months:

• • Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine – First dose.

At 12 Months: 

• • Hepatitis A vaccine – First dose.
  • Typhoid vaccine (usually given as an injectable vaccine) – First dose.

At 15-18 Months:

• • MMR vaccine – Second dose.
  • Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine – First dose (if not previously vaccinated).

At 16-18 Months:

• • DPT vaccine – Booster dose.
  • OPV – Booster dose.

At 2 Years and 6 Months:

• • Typhoid vaccine – Booster dose (if needed, as per the vaccine type used initially).

At 5 Years:

• • DPT vaccine – Booster dose (commonly referred to as DTaP, with the ‘a’ indicating an acellular version of the vaccine).
  • OPV – Booster dose.
  • Measles vaccine – Second dose.

At 10 Years:

• • Tetanus and diphtheria toxoid (Td) vaccine – First dose.

At 16 Years:

• • Tetanus and diphtheria toxoid (Td) vaccine – Booster dose.