World Immunization Day: India's Free Vaccine Programme Now Shields Against 12 Diseases
The Universal Immunization Programme remains one of the world's largest, as doctors urge parents not to miss scheduled doses.
India marked World Immunization Day on 10 November with a renewed call to make sure every child completes their vaccine schedule.
One of the world's largest programmes
India's Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) provides free vaccines against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases. These include diseases such as measles, rubella, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis and hepatitis B, among others. Vaccination against Japanese encephalitis is offered in districts where the disease is common.
The programme reaches millions of newborns and pregnant women every year through government hospitals, primary health centres and outreach sessions in villages.
Why it still matters
The World Health Organization estimates that vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives over the last 50 years. Yet missed or delayed doses still leave gaps that allow outbreaks of diseases like measles to return.
What parents can do
- Keep the child's vaccination card safe and check the next due date.
- Ask the nearest government health centre or ASHA worker about missed doses. Catch-up is usually possible.
- Use the U-WIN platform to track and book vaccinations where available.
Doctors also note that adults need vaccines too, such as tetanus boosters and flu shots for older people, especially as air quality worsens in the winter months.