ROUTINE IMMUNIZATION IN INDIA

ROUTINE IMMUNIZATION IN INDIA

The first doses of smallpox vaccine lymph in India arrived in May 1802. Anna Dusthall, a three year old child from Bombay (nowMumbai) became the first person in India to receive smallpox vaccine on June 14, 18026 Immunization Programme is one of the key interventions for protection of children from life threatening conditions, which are preventable. It is one of the largest immunization programme in the world and a major public health intervention in the country.

Immunization Programme in India was introduced in 1978 as Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI)

The programme gained momentum in 1985 and was expanded as Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) to be implemented in phased manner to cover all districts in the country by 1989-90.

UIP become a part of Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme in 1992 Since, 1997, immunization activities have been an important component of National Reproductive and Child Health Programme and is currently one of the key areas under National Rural Health Mission (NHM) since 2005

Under the Universal Immunization Programme, Government of India is providing vaccination to prevent seven vaccine preventable diseases i.e. Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, severe form of Childhood Tuberculosis and Hepatitis B