Chart for babies Vaccination in India
The first disease that introduced the concept of vaccination to this world was smallpox. Inoculation of material from cowpox pustules was found to protect against cowpox in the future. This phenomenon was identified by Edward Jenner, the father of vaccination. Following this revelation, the practice of immunization spread across the globe, and at the dawn of bacteriology, developments began to occur rapidly. By the middle of the 20th century, vaccines for polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and other diseases arrived. These reduced the disease burden significantly and provided the much-needed drive for vaccine research. This article will discuss few concerns around why vaccination is needed in babies and vaccination charts.
Why is vaccination needed for babies?
Immunization is a critical component of the healthcare sector. It currently prevents over 2 to 3 million deaths every year that might have occurred due to tetanus, diphtheria, and other infectious diseases.
Babies usually receive many vaccines within the first nine months of their birth, vital for their survival. Protection from infectious diseases is one of the main reasons for vaccinating babies, but the indisputable fact is that vaccinating keeps the baby healthy. It is equally important to maintain the schedule of the Vaccination chart of babies.
Although vaccinating might result in the baby suffering from a mild infection for some time, you cannot forgo it entirely. Avoiding them increases the child’s risk of contracting the disease in the future, which might result in fatality.
The Government of India laid out one of the most extensive immunization programs in the world in 1978. In 1985, this program was called the Universal Immunization Programme, and this is now a vital component of the National Reproductive and Child Health Programme. The National Immunization Schedule covers vaccination for seven – vaccine-preventable diseases.
The schedule for infants and children are as follows :
Vaccination chart for babies in India
| Vaccine | Age | Dose | Route of administration | Site of administration |
| For infants | ||||
| BCG | 0 ( at birth ) | 0.1 ml ( 0.05 ml up to 1 month of age ) | Intradermal | Left upper arm |
| Hepatitis B | Three doses at 0 ( at birth ), 6 weeks, and 10 weeks of birth, respectively. | 0.5 ml | Intramuscular | Left mid-thigh |
| OPV – 0 | 0 ( at birth ) | 2 drops | Oral | – |
| OPV 1, 2 & 3 | At 6 weeks, 10 weeks, and 14 weeks of birth | 2 drops | Oral | – |
| IPV | 14 weeks | 0.5 ml | Intramuscular | Right mid-thigh |
| Pentavalent 1, 2 & 3 | At 6 weeks, 10 weeks, and 14 weeks of birth | 0.5 ml | Intramuscular | Left mid-thigh |
| Rotavirus vaccine | At 6 weeks, 10 weeks, and 14 weeks of birth | 5 drops | Oral | – |
| The measles vaccine, 1st dose | 9 completed months – 12 months ( maybe given up to 5 years of birth ) | 0.5 ml | Subcutaneous | Right upper arm |
| Vitamin A, 1st dose | At 9 months with measles vaccine | 1 ml ( 1 lakh IU ) | Oral | – |
| For children | ||||
| DPT 1st booster | 16 to 24 months | 0.5 ml | Intramuscular | Left mid-thigh |
| OPV booster | 16 to 24 months | 2 drops | Oral | – |
| The measles vaccine, 2nd dose | 16 to 24 months | 0.5 ml | Subcutaneous | Right upper arm |
| Vitamin A ( 2nd to 9th dose ) | At 16 months with DPT/OPV booster and then one dose for every 6th month up to 5 years of age | 2 ml ( 2 lakh IU ) | Oral | – |
| DPT 2nd booster | 5 to 6 years | 0.5 ml | Intramuscular | Left upper arm |
| TT | 10 years and 16 years | 0.5 ml | Intramuscular | Upper arm |
References:
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- Let us know about Vaccination in Baby-Do’s and don’ts.
- The Health Ministry approves the National Immunization Schedule of India. Read more: Month-wise schedule of vaccines.
- Are you aware that which vaccines are given to babies?
- Vaccines: Definition, Action, and Development