Vaccination Charts For Babies In India: All You Need To Know

In 2023, India completed 12 years of being polio-free. While there are still neighbours on the subcontinent that are yet to cover the last mile when it comes to eradicating polio, India achieved this feat over a decade ago, which is majorly attributed to the pulse polio immunisation campaign. Vaccination against polio has been made available to children in the country since the 1970s. But if polio has been eradicated, should you still be getting your children vaccinated against it? Certainly, you should. Among the various reasons, a primary one if that if even a single case of polio is still found, every child is at risk. Furthermore, preventative steps in the form of vaccination, to protect your child’s health can help you reduce the risk they face for some of the key infections prevalent for children. Although medical science has made progress in leaps, children all around the world are still at a high risk of certain conditions that could drastically affect their lives. Vaccination is one of the ways to protect them against these conditions, some of which could prove fatal.

Vaccinating Children In India

Here is an overview on vaccinating children in India to increase their chances at a safe and healthy future.

Timing	Vaccine	Description	Administration	Protection Against	Potential Side Effects
AT BIRTH	Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG)	Injection on upper arm. Protects against tuberculosis.	Injection	Tuberculosis	Soreness, discharge, high temperature, headache, swollen glands
AT BIRTH	Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) – 0 dose	Oral administration. Protects against poliovirus paralysis.	Oral	Poliovirus	None
AT BIRTH	Hepatitis B birth dose	Injection. Guards against Hepatitis B viral liver infection.	Injection	Hepatitis B	Redness, soreness
6 WEEKS	Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) - 1	Oral dose against poliovirus paralysis.	Oral	Poliovirus	None
6 WEEKS	Pentavalent - 1	Injection against Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Hib.	Injection	Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Hib	Swelling, redness, pain, fever
6 WEEKS	Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV) - 1	Oral protection from severe infant diarrhoea caused by rotaviruses.	Oral	Rotaviruses	Rare: diarrhea, vomiting, irritation
6 WEEKS	Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) - 1	Injection guarding against pneumococcal infections.	Injection	Pneumococcal bacteria	Redness, swelling, pain, fever, fussiness, tiredness, headache, muscle/joint pain, chills
6 WEEKS	Inactivated Polio Vaccine (fIPV) - 1	Injection protecting against poliovirus.	Injection	Poliovirus	Soreness, fever
10 WEEKS	Pentavalent - 2	Injection against Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Hib.	Injection	Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Hib	Swelling, redness, pain, fever
10 WEEKS	Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) - 2	Oral dose against poliovirus paralysis.	Oral	Poliovirus	None
10 WEEKS	Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV) - 2	Oral protection from severe infant diarrhoea caused by rotaviruses.	Oral	Rotaviruses	Rare: diarrhea, vomiting, irritation
14 WEEKS	Pentavalent - 3	Injection against Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Hib.	Injection	Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Hib	Swelling, redness, pain, fever
14 WEEKS	Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) - 3	Oral dose against poliovirus paralysis.	Oral	Poliovirus	None
14 WEEKS	Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV) - 3	Oral protection from severe infant diarrhoea caused by rotaviruses.	Oral	Rotaviruses	Rare: diarrhea, vomiting, irritation
14 WEEKS	Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) - 2	Injection guarding against pneumococcal infections.	Injection	Pneumococcal bacteria	Redness, swelling, pain, fever, fussiness, tiredness, headache, muscle/joint pain, chills
14 WEEKS	Inactivated Polio Vaccine (fIPV) - 2	Injection protecting against poliovirus.	Injection	Poliovirus	Soreness, fever
9-12 MONTHS	Measles & Rubella (MR) - 1	Injection against measles and rubella.	Injection	Measles, Rubella	Redness, swelling, fever
9-12 MONTHS	Japanese Encephalitis (JE-1)	Injection guarding against Japanese Encephalitis viral disease in Asia.	Injection	Japanese Encephalitis	Rare: fever, headache, pain, redness, swelling
9-12 MONTHS	Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine - Booster	Injection guarding against pneumococcal infections.	Injection	Pneumococcal bacteria	Redness, swelling, pain, fever, fussiness, tiredness, headache, muscle/joint pain, chills
16-24 MONTHS	Measles & Rubella (MR) - 2	Injection against measles and rubella.	Injection	Measles, Rubella	Redness, swelling, fever
16-24 MONTHS	Japanese Encephalitis (JE-2)	Injection guarding against Japanese Encephalitis viral disease in Asia.	Injection	Japanese Encephalitis	Rare: fever, headache, pain, redness, swelling
5-6 YEARS	Diphtheria Pertussis & Tetanus (DPT) - Booster 1	Injection against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus.	Injection	Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus	Swelling, soreness, fever, irritability, loss of appetite, vomiting
5-6 YEARS	Oral Polio Vaccine – Booster	Oral dose against poliovirus paralysis.	Oral	Poliovirus	None
5-6 YEARS	Diphtheria Pertussis & Tetanus (DPT) - Booster 2	Injection against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus.	Injection	Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus	Swelling, soreness, fever, irritability, loss of appetite, vomiting
10 YEARS	Tetanus & adult Diphtheria (Td)	Injection against tetanus and adult diphtheria.	Injection	Tetanus, Diphtheria	Pain, redness, swelling, fever, headache, exhaustion, gastrointestinal discomfort
16 YEARS	Tetanus & adult Diphtheria (Td)	Injection against tetanus and adult diphtheria.	Injection	Tetanus, Diphtheria	Pain, redness, swelling, fever, headache, exhaustion, gastrointestinal discomfort

  While vaccination can protect your little one against a range of diseases, it is also necessary to prepare for any contingencies by including them in your health insurance plan. You can get a family health plan to cover most members of your family, including your little one. Consider a general insurance provider who offers the right sort of plan to suit your needs. You can also check the premiums beforehand using a health insurance calculator available online.* The information presented is not meant to be a substitute for medical advice. Any suggestions mentioned should be considered for general use only. For expert guidance on any health ailment or medical issue or any treatment/procedure, please consult a certified medical professional.   *Standard T&C Apply Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on several secondary sources on the internet and is subject to changes. Please consult an expert before making any related decisions. Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms, and conditions, please read the sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.