National Immunization Schedule (NIS)Source: MoHFW, Govt of India & WHO

Child Vaccination Schedule

A comprehensive, verified guide to essential pediatric immunizations from birth through 16 years of age under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP).

📅 Reviewed: August 2026💉 Vaccines Listed: 19 standard doses🛡️ Diseases Prevented: 12+ lethal pediatric infections

Birth Series

BCG, OPV-0, and Hepatitis B birth dose within 24 hours of delivery.

Primary Series

Pentavalent, RVV, fIPV, and PCV given at 6, 10, and 14 weeks.

Boosters & School Age

MR-1 & Vit A at 9m; DPT & OPV boosters at 16–24m, 5–6y, 10y, and 16y.

Parent TipsPlain-English Health Guidance

Parent Quick Guide: Managing Childhood Immunizations

Vaccines teach your child's developing immune system to build lifelong protective antibodies. Here is what every parent should know:

Recommended Age: Birth

3 Vaccines

BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin)

Dose: Birth Dose

Route: Intradermal (ID)Site: Left upper arm

Disease Prevented: Tuberculosis (especially TB Meningitis and Disseminated TB)

Provides vital early childhood protection against severe extrapulmonary forms of tuberculosis.

Catch-up Guidance: If not administered at birth, can be given up to 12 months of age (0.1 ml dose if older than 4 weeks).

Expected mild reactions: Mild localized papule at injection site at 2-3 weeks, evolving into small crusting ulcer that heals with characteristic scar.

OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine) - Zero Dose

Dose: Zero Dose

Route: Oral (Drops)Site: Mouth (2 drops)

Disease Prevented: Poliomyelitis (Infantile Paralysis)

Induces local mucosal intestinal IgA immunity to stop wild poliovirus transmission.

Catch-up Guidance: Zero dose should be given within 15 days of birth; if missed, proceed directly to Primary Dose 1 at 6 weeks.

Expected mild reactions: Virtually nil; extremely rare vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP).

Hepatitis B (Birth Dose)

Dose: Birth Dose

Route: Intramuscular (IM)Site: Anterolateral mid-thigh

Disease Prevented: Hepatitis B Virus (Perinatal Transmission & Chronic Liver Cirrhosis)

Prevents mother-to-child vertical transmission during delivery, averting chronic carrier status.

Catch-up Guidance: Must be administered within 24 hours of birth to effectively prevent perinatal transmission.

Expected mild reactions: Mild soreness, erythema, and transient low-grade fever.

Recommended Age: 6 Weeks

4 Vaccines

Pentavalent Vaccine (DPT + Hep B + Hib) - Dose 1

Dose: Dose 1

Route: Intramuscular (IM)Site: Anterolateral mid-thigh (left)

Disease Prevented: Diphtheria, Pertussis (Whooping Cough), Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b

5-in-1 combination vaccine preventing lethal childhood respiratory infections, neonatal tetanus, and Hib meningitis.

Catch-up Guidance: Can be started up to 1 year of age if delayed. Maintain 4-week minimum intervals between doses.

Expected mild reactions: Localized swelling, tenderness, low-to-moderate fever, irritability for 24-48 hours.

Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV) - Dose 1

Dose: Dose 1

Route: Oral (Drops)Site: Mouth (5 drops or 2.5 ml oral suspension)

Disease Prevented: Rotaviral Severe Dehydrating Diarrhea

Shields infants from severe, life-threatening dehydrating gastroenteritis.

Catch-up Guidance: First dose should ideally be given by 15 weeks of age; course must be finished by 8 months.

Expected mild reactions: Mild irritability, loose stools, or mild vomiting in a small minority.

Fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine (fIPV) - Dose 1

Dose: Dose 1

Route: Intradermal (ID)Site: Right upper arm

Disease Prevented: Poliomyelitis (All 3 Serotypes: Type 1, 2, and 3)

Boosts humoral systemic immunity against polioviruses, eliminating circulating vaccine-derived polio risk.

Catch-up Guidance: 0.1 ml dose intradermally at 6 and 14 weeks.

Expected mild reactions: Transient local erythema and minimal swelling.

Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) - Dose 1

Dose: Dose 1

Route: Intramuscular (IM)Site: Anterolateral mid-thigh (right)

Disease Prevented: Streptococcus pneumoniae (Invasive Pneumococcal Disease, Pneumonia, Bacteremia, Meningitis)

Drastically cuts infant mortality from bacterial pneumonia and pneumococcal meningitis.

Catch-up Guidance: Given at 6 and 14 weeks, with booster at 9 completed months.

Expected mild reactions: Mild fever, injection site tenderness, loss of appetite.

Recommended Age: 10 Weeks

2 Vaccines

Pentavalent Vaccine (DPT + Hep B + Hib) - Dose 2

Dose: Dose 2

Route: Intramuscular (IM)Site: Anterolateral mid-thigh (left)

Disease Prevented: Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Hib

Second priming dose for high-titer antibody persistence.

Catch-up Guidance: Minimum 4-week gap after Dose 1.

Expected mild reactions: Mild fever, swelling.

Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV) - Dose 2

Dose: Dose 2

Route: Oral (Drops)Site: Mouth (5 drops)

Disease Prevented: Rotavirus Gastroenteritis

Second dose reinforcing intestinal mucosal protection.

Catch-up Guidance: Minimum 4-week gap after Dose 1.

Expected mild reactions: Mild transient loose stools.

Recommended Age: 14 Weeks

2 Vaccines

Pentavalent Vaccine (DPT + Hep B + Hib) - Dose 3

Dose: Dose 3

Route: Intramuscular (IM)Site: Anterolateral mid-thigh (left)

Disease Prevented: Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Hib

Final infant primary series dose ensuring protective titers throughout early childhood.

Catch-up Guidance: Must maintain 4 weeks from Dose 2.

Expected mild reactions: Low fever, local tenderness.

Fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine (fIPV) - Dose 2

Dose: Dose 2

Route: Intradermal (ID)Site: Right upper arm

Disease Prevented: Poliovirus Types 1, 2, and 3

Reinforces circulating antibodies for life-long poliomyelitis prevention.

Catch-up Guidance: 0.1 ml dose intradermally.

Expected mild reactions: Transient localized red bump.

Recommended Age: 9 Months

2 Vaccines

Measles-Rubella (MR) - Dose 1

Dose: Dose 1

Route: Subcutaneous (SC)Site: Right upper arm

Disease Prevented: Measles (Rubeola) & Congenital Rubella Syndrome

Prevents acute measles complications (encephalitis, pneumonia) and rubella embryopathy.

Catch-up Guidance: Given at 9-12 completed months. Can be given up to 5 years if missed.

Expected mild reactions: Mild rash, transient fever 6-10 days following immunization in ~5% of children.

Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) - Booster

Dose: Booster Dose

Route: Intramuscular (IM)Site: Anterolateral mid-thigh (right)

Disease Prevented: Invasive Pneumococcal Disease & Bacteremic Pneumonia

Sustains protective antibody concentrations through the highest-risk toddler period.

Catch-up Guidance: Administer at 9 completed months with MR 1 dose.

Expected mild reactions: Transient fever, mild leg soreness.

Recommended Age: 16-24 Months

3 Vaccines

Measles-Rubella (MR) - Dose 2

Dose: Dose 2

Route: Subcutaneous (SC)Site: Right upper arm

Disease Prevented: Measles & Congenital Rubella

Seroconverts the 5-10% of infants who failed to mount full protective immunity at 9 months.

Catch-up Guidance: Can be administered anytime between 16 and 24 months, or up to 5 years.

Expected mild reactions: Mild transient rash or low-grade fever.

DPT Booster 1

Dose: Booster 1

Route: Intramuscular (IM)Site: Anterolateral mid-thigh

Disease Prevented: Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus

Restores waning antitoxin titers against diphtheria and tetanus toxins and pertussis antigens.

Catch-up Guidance: Administer between 16 and 24 months.

Expected mild reactions: Localized warmth, swelling, pain at injection site, irritability.

OPV Booster

Dose: Booster Dose

Route: Oral (Drops)Site: Mouth (2 drops)

Disease Prevented: Poliomyelitis

Boosts mucosal immunity prior to toddler socialization and daycare exposure.

Catch-up Guidance: Administer with DPT Booster 1.

Expected mild reactions: None noted.

Recommended Age: 5-6 Years

1 Vaccine

DPT Booster 2

Dose: Booster 2

Route: Intramuscular (IM)Site: Upper arm (Deltoid)

Disease Prevented: Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus

Provides vital immunity boost before school entry where transmission risks elevate.

Catch-up Guidance: Can be given up to 7 years. Over 7 years, Td is substituted for DPT.

Expected mild reactions: Soreness in arm, slight swelling.

Recommended Age: 10 Years

1 Vaccine

Td (Tetanus & Adult Diphtheria Toxoid) - 10 Years

Dose: Dose 1 (School Entry Booster)

Route: Intramuscular (IM)Site: Upper arm (Deltoid)

Disease Prevented: Tetanus (Lockjaw) & Diphtheria

Protects against schoolyard and recreational wound-related Clostridium tetani spores.

Catch-up Guidance: Given at 10 years of age to all school children.

Expected mild reactions: Localized deltoid ache, mild stiff arm for 24-36 hours.

Recommended Age: 16 Years

1 Vaccine

Td (Tetanus & Adult Diphtheria Toxoid) - 16 Years

Dose: Dose 2 (Adolescent Booster)

Route: Intramuscular (IM)Site: Upper arm (Deltoid)

Disease Prevented: Tetanus & Diphtheria

Ensures durable transition of protective antibodies into adulthood and reproductive age.

Catch-up Guidance: Given to all adolescents at 16 years.

Expected mild reactions: Mild injection site pain.

General Vaccination Principles & FAQs

What if my child missed a scheduled vaccine dose?

Do not restart the entire vaccine schedule from the beginning. Simply administer the next due dose as soon as possible and maintain the recommended minimum interval between subsequent doses.

Can multiple vaccines be given on the same day?

Yes. Administering multiple vaccines at the same visit using different anatomical injection sites (e.g. left thigh and right thigh) is safe, effective, and standard medical practice worldwide.

Can a child with mild fever, cough, or cold be vaccinated?

Yes. Mild illnesses such as a cold, runny nose, or low-grade fever are NOT contraindications to routine vaccination. Only severe acute illness requiring hospitalization may warrant temporary deferral.

Important Immunization Notice:This schedule reflects the official Indian National Immunization Schedule (NIS) guidelines established by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Optional or additional vaccines recommended by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) such as Influenza, Meningococcal, and Chickenpox (Varicella) may be discussed with your pediatrician.