Keeping track of your child’s vaccinations can feel confusing, especially when hospital records, government schedules and private clinic recommendations look different. The good news is that you do not have to work it out alone. Your child’s vaccination card and a discussion with their paediatrician can help you plan each visit.
This guide explains the child vaccination schedule in India, why some recommendations differ, and how to handle missed appointments. It is a general guide, not a replacement for an individual vaccination plan.
Why childhood vaccination matters
Vaccines help the immune system recognise specific infections and build protection against them. They reduce the risk of serious illness and complications from diseases such as polio, measles, diphtheria and whooping cough. Some vaccines need several scheduled visits to build and maintain protection.
Timely vaccination also helps protect people who are more vulnerable to infections, including very young babies and those with certain medical conditions. No vaccine provides complete protection, but following the recommended schedule gives your child important protection during vulnerable stages of growth.
Understanding vaccination schedules in India
India’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) provides routine vaccines free through government services. The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) also publishes recommendations for individual children, which paediatricians commonly use in clinical practice.
These schedules overlap but are not identical. The IAP schedule may recommend additional vaccines or different timings. Differences do not automatically mean that one vaccination card is wrong. Availability, previous vaccinations, medical history and local disease risks all matter.
Routine government vaccination schedule: age by age
The following overview reflects the core UIP childhood schedule. Confirm current arrangements with your local immunisation centre, as programme guidance and implementation can change. The ages below describe routine appointments, not personalised catch-up advice.
At birth
- BCG: protects against severe forms of tuberculosis in children.
- OPV birth vaccination: oral polio vaccine given soon after birth.
- Hepatitis B birth vaccination: ideally given within 24 hours of birth to help prevent early infection.
If a birth vaccination was missed, contact the maternity facility or paediatrician promptly. Timing matters, and the next steps depend on the vaccine and the baby’s age.
At 6, 10 and 14 weeks
- At 6 weeks: OPV, pentavalent vaccine, rotavirus vaccine, fractional inactivated polio vaccine (fIPV) and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV).
- At 10 weeks: OPV, pentavalent vaccine and rotavirus vaccine.
- At 14 weeks: OPV, pentavalent vaccine, rotavirus vaccine, fIPV and PCV.
Pentavalent vaccine protects against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B and infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b. Rotavirus vaccine helps prevent severe rotavirus diarrhoea. PCV protects against certain pneumococcal infections, including serious infections affecting the lungs, blood or brain coverings.
At 9–12 months
- Measles-rubella vaccine (MR): the first routine MR vaccination.
- PCV booster: strengthens protection from the earlier vaccinations.
- fIPV: an additional scheduled fractional inactivated polio vaccination.
- Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine: provided in designated endemic districts.
Vitamin A supplementation may also be offered during childhood health visits. Vitamin A is not a vaccine, even though it may appear alongside vaccinations on a health card.
At 16–24 months
- MR: the second routine measles-rubella vaccination.
- DPT booster: for diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus.
- OPV booster: for polio protection.
- JE: a further vaccination in designated endemic districts.
At 5–6 years, 10 years and 16 years
A further DPT booster is scheduled at 5–6 years. Tetanus and adult diphtheria vaccine, called Td, is scheduled at 10 and 16 years under the UIP. Keep the vaccination record accessible as your child enters school and adolescence.
Additional vaccines your paediatrician may discuss
Depending on the schedule being followed, your paediatrician may discuss vaccines against mumps through MMR, hepatitis A, chickenpox, typhoid, influenza and human papillomavirus (HPV). Other vaccines may be relevant for particular medical conditions or travel.
These vaccines have different age requirements and schedules. Influenza vaccination may be recommended annually, while HPV vaccination is generally discussed before likely exposure to the virus. Ask about eligibility, availability, cost and how these vaccines fit alongside the UIP schedule.
MR and MMR are not interchangeable names: MR protects against measles and rubella, while MMR also includes protection against mumps. Your paediatrician can reconcile records if your child has received different products at different clinics.
What if your child misses a vaccination?
A missed appointment does not usually mean restarting the entire vaccination series. Doctors generally prepare a catch-up plan using the child’s age, documented vaccinations and the minimum intervals required between them.
- Bring all available records, including hospital discharge papers and photographs of older vaccination cards.
- Tell the doctor about vaccinations received elsewhere, including during campaigns.
- Ask promptly about vaccines with upper age limits, particularly rotavirus vaccine.
- Do not assume that a polio campaign visit replaces every routine vaccination appointment.
If the record is missing or unclear, a clinician can decide the safest next steps. For help reviewing your child’s vaccination history, you can explore healthcare support through SecondMedic.
Preparing for a vaccination visit
Carry the vaccination card and share any history of a severe allergic reaction, immune-system condition or significant illness. Tell the clinician about current medicines and any previous vaccine reaction. A mild cold does not always require postponement, but the vaccinating clinician should assess your child.
After vaccination, remain at the clinic for the observation period advised by the team. Mild soreness, local swelling, irritability or a short-lived fever can occur. Ask about comfort measures and which symptoms need attention; seek medical advice before giving medicines.
When to see a doctor
See your paediatrician if vaccinations are overdue, records are uncertain, or your child has a medical condition that could affect vaccination. Get urgent medical help for breathing difficulty, swelling of the face or throat, collapse, or a seizure after vaccination. Any fever in a baby younger than three months needs prompt medical assessment.
