CarpeDiem IAS • CarpeDiem IAS • CarpeDiem IAS •

Lessons from India’s Vaccination Drive

25 Sep 2025 GS 2 Govt schemes & initiatives
Lessons from India’s Vaccination Drive Click to view full image

Scale and Impact

  • India runs the world’s largest immunisation programme (UIP).

  • Every year: 2.6 crore infants and 2.9 crore pregnant women are vaccinated free of cost.

  • Helped reduce under-5 mortality (from 45 in 2014 to 31 in 2021 per 1,000 live births).

Expansion of Coverage

  • UIP now covers 12 diseases (11 vaccines nationwide + 1 in endemic areas).

  • New vaccines added in the past decade:

    • Tetanus & Adult Diphtheria,

    • Inactivated Poliovirus,

    • Measles-Rubella,

    • Rotavirus,

    • Pneumococcal Conjugate,

    • Japanese Encephalitis.

  • World Immunisation Week (WIW) is a global healthcare event, typically celebrated every year in the last week of April between 24th and 30th.

Mission Indradhanush (MI)

  • Launched in 2014 to raise full coverage from 62% → 90%.

  • Intensified MI (IMI) in 2017 targeted low-coverage & missed populations.

  • By 2023 → 12 phases completed; vaccinated 5.46 crore children & 1.32 crore pregnant women.

  • Integrated into Gram Swaraj Abhiyan to widen reach.

Key Achievements

  • Polio-free since 2011.

  • Maternal & neonatal tetanus eliminated (2015).

  • Yaws eliminated (2016).

  • Measles-Rubella campaign (2017–19) vaccinated 34.8 crore children.

  • COVID-19 vaccination: over 220 crore doses by Jan 2023; covered 97% (1 dose) and 90% (2 doses).

  • Supported global south via Vaccine Maitri.

Challenges

  • Difficult to reach:

    • Remote & migratory populations,

    • Clusters with low awareness or hesitancy.

  • COVID-19 disrupted routine immunisation → measles outbreaks (2022–24).

Innovations and Technology

  • Digital tracking through U-WIN platform (based on Co-WIN) for end-to-end vaccination records.

  • Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) → stock monitoring.

  • Cold Chain MIS → real-time cold storage tracking.

  • SAFE-VAC → vaccine safety reporting.

  • Zero-dose outreach to identify unvaccinated children.

Global Leadership

  • India = world’s largest vaccine producer.

  • Showcased self-reliance (domestic COVID-19 vaccine development).

  • Gained recognition (e.g., Measles & Rubella Champion Award, 2024).

Way Forward

  • Strengthen surveillance + immunisation linkage.

  • Counter anti-vaccine narratives.

  • Adopt One Health approach (human-animal-environment joint surveillance).

  • Continue improving cold chain, awareness, and last-mile delivery.

Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) – India

1. Introduction

  • Launched: 1985 by the Government of India.

  • Became part of Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme (1992).

  • Since 2005, a key component of the National Health Mission (NHM).

  • Coverage: All residents of India, including foreign residents.

  • Cost of vaccines: Fully borne by the Government of India .

2. Diseases Covered (12 in total)

  • Original set (1985 onwards):

    • Tuberculosis (BCG)

    • Diphtheria

    • Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

    • Tetanus

    • Poliomyelitis

    • Measles

  • Later additions:

    • Hepatitis B (2007)

    • Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) → pneumonia, meningitis

    • Japanese Encephalitis (JE)

    • Rotaviral gastroenteritis (RVV)

    • Rubella (as Measles-Rubella vaccine)

    • Pneumococcal diseases (pneumonia, meningitis) (2017)

3. New Vaccines Introduced (phased additions)

  • Injectable Polio Vaccine (IPV) – supplement to oral polio drops.

  • Adult JE vaccine – for vulnerable populations in endemic areas.

  • Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) – against pneumonia & meningitis.

  • Measles-Rubella vaccine (MR) – replaced single measles shot.



← Back to list