Healthcare In India Immunisation Programs from Vajirao & Reddy Institute

HEALTHCARE IN INDIA IMMUNISATION PROGRAMS

• The year 2024 marks 50 years since the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in 1974, now known as the Essential Program on Immunization.
• This program has evolved to provide protection against many vaccine-preventable diseases and has made significant contributions to global health.

• Launched in 1978 as the EPI, India renamed the program as the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) in 1985.
• 100% Funded by the central government.
• UIP is one of the key interventions for protection of children from life threatening conditions by providing vaccination.
• The UIP aims to rapidly increase immunization coverage, improve service quality, establish a reliable cold chain system to health facilities, monitor performance, and achieve self-sufficiency in vaccine production.
• All pregnant women and children can get vaccinated at government or private health facilities or designated immunization session sites.

• Under UIP, free vaccination is provided against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases.
• 9 diseases are covered nationally:
  • Diphtheria,
  • Pertussis,
  • Tetanus,
  • Polio,
  • Measles,
  • Rubella,
  • Severe Childhood Tuberculosis,
  • Hepatitis B, and
  • Meningitis & Pneumonia caused by Haemophilus Influenza type B.
• 3 diseases are covered sub-nationally:
  • Rotavirus diarrhea,
  • Pneumococcal Pneumonia, and
  • Japanese Encephalitis.
• Rotavirus vaccine and Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine are in expansion, while JE vaccine is only provided in endemic districts.

• Mission Indradhanush (MI) - 2014 Launched in December 2014, Mission Indradhanush is a targeted immunization programme aimed at vaccinating children who are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. It focuses on districts with the highest number of missed children.
  • Phases Completed: 4 phases have been completed.
  • Children Vaccinated:94 crore children, with 76.36 lakh fully immunized.
  • Pregnant Women Vaccinated:84 lakh pregnant women were vaccinated against tetanus.
  • Impact: Full immunization coverage increased from 1% to 6.7%
• Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) - 2017 Launched in October 2017, IMI aimed to increase immunization coverage in districts with low immunization rates.
  • Coverage Areas: 121 districts in 16 States, 52 districts in North Eastern States, and 17 urban areas.
  • Immunization Outcomes: 39.19 lakh children and 8.09 lakh pregnant women vaccinated across 190 districts/urban areas.