What is the National Immunisation Schedule 2022?

National Immunisation Schedule 2022

The Immunisation programme in India was introduced in the year 1978 as the Expanded Programme of Immunisation (EPI). The same was further expanded as the Universal Immunisation Programme seven years later in 1985. Under UIP, free vaccines are provided against 11 life-threatening diseases that are as follows- Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis B, Pneumonia and Meningitis due to Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib), Measles, Rubella, Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Rotavirus diarrhoea (Rubella, JE and Rotavirus vaccine in select states and districts).

The State Government gives a vaccination schedule to enable a timely national immunisation programme. You should note that a significant delay in vaccination can put children at risk of serious diseases that can easily be prevented. The following National Immunisation Schedule recommended by the Ministry of Health, Government of India is most widely followed by child healthcare providers across the country:

National Immunisation Schedule chart

* Give Td-2 or Booster doses before 36 weeks of pregnancy. However, give these even if more than 36 weeks have passed. Give Td to a woman in labour if, she has not previously received Td Pentavalent vaccine** (containing Diphtheria+Pertussis+Tetanus+Hepatitis B+Hib).

*** JE vaccine at selected endemic districts.

Rotavirus vaccine (RVV)

The Under-5 Mortality Rate (U-5MR) in India is 37 for every 1000 births. One of the major causes of this are diarrhoeal deaths, a disease primarily caused by the rotavirus.

Pentavalent vaccines

Pentavalent vaccines are a combination of DPT (diphtheria, Pertussis/whooping cough and tetanus), Hepatitis B and Hib vaccines. DPT and Hepatitis B vaccines which are already a part of the immunisation programme are being replaced by the pentavalent vaccines in a phased manner. The pentavalent vaccines are administered intramuscularly in doses of 0.5 ml in the mid-thigh region.

The revised immunisation schedule, when pentavalent vaccines are introduced, is as follows:

IAP (Indian Academy of Pediatrics) Recommendations

The Indian Academy of Pediatrics which is the largest organisation of paediatricians in India endorses the National Immunisation Schedule. The committee has further supplemented the schedule with the Hepatitis B and the MMR vaccines (Measles, Mumps, & Rubella). Even though Rubella might appear to be a mild illness, it can cause congenital defects in babies if the mother is not protected against Rubella and catches the infection during pregnancy. The schedule is as follows:

 Abbreviations

• BCG: Bacillus Calmette Guerin

• OPV: Oral poliovirus vaccine

• DTwP: Diphtheria, tetanus, whole-cell Pertussis

• DT: Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids

• TT: Tetanus toxoid

• Hep B: Hepatitis B vaccine

• MMR: Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine

• Hib: Haemophilus influenzae Type ‘b’ Vaccine

• IPV: Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine

• Td: Tetanus, reduced dose diphtheria toxoid

• HPV: Human Papillomavirus Vaccine

• PCV: Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine

• TdaP: Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids and aCellular Pertussis Vaccine

WHO-India Recommendation

The immunisation schedule recommended by the WHO is as follows:

The cross below the age (in weeks) table indicates when the vaccine should be given.

Conclusion

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