The National Immunisation Schedule

Key points

• • An immunisation schedule sets out which vaccines are given and at what age, so that protection develops before a child is likely to meet the infection.
• • Under India's Universal Immunisation Programme, the vaccines given at birth include BCG for tuberculosis, the first oral polio drops and hepatitis B.
• • In early infancy, combined vaccines protect against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, hepatitis B and Haemophilus, along with polio.
• • A measles-containing vaccine is given in later infancy, with later booster doses to keep the protection strong.
• • Keeping vaccines cold from factory to child (the cold chain) is essential, because heat destroys their protective power.