Major milestone since launch of EPI in India (1978- till 2012)

Table VI. Major milestone since launch of EPI in India (1978- till 2012) Year                       Vaccination efforts 1978                      Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) launched in India.   1980                   World declared smallpox free. It becomes the first disease to be eradicated from the planet. 1985                                Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) launched in 31 districts of India with a plan for expansion  to the entire country. 1986                                Immunization became one of the five National Technology Missions in India. 1988                                World Health Assembly passes a resolution to eradicate polio by the year 2000. 1989                                First comprehensive review of UIP in India conducted. 1990                                UIP universalized to cover the entire country. 1991                                Cold chain maintenance was taken over by the State governments. 1992                                UIP became part of Child Survival and Safe Motherhood (CSSM) programme in the country. Another international review of UIP in India conducted.   1995                     India conducted first National Immunization Day for Polio eradication.   1997                      UIP became part of Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) programme in India. National Polio Surveillance Project launched as WHO and the Government of India collaboration. 2000                                Border District Cluster Strategy for immunization strengthening in border districts implemented; Immunization Strengthening Project (ISP) implemented. 2001                                National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) in India formed. 2004                                International review of UIP conducted.   2003/2004           First maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination (MNTE) validation done. 2005                                UIP became part of overall umbrella health programme National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in India. First Multi Year strategic Plan (MYP) for UIP in India (2005-2010) released. National Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) Surveillance and response operational  guidelines released.   2005/06               The glass syringes in UIP were replaced by the policy of the use of auto-disable syringes only. 2006                                Country conducted first Immunization Weeks for improving coverage with UIP antigens in poor  performing districts. 2007/08                National, State and district level AEFI committees constituted. State and district level trainings in AEFI conducted. 2008                                Immunization Handbook for Medical officer released and trainings started. National Cold Chain Assessment conducted. 2009                                Guidelines for the involvement of private practitioners in UIP released. National Vaccine Wastage Survey Conducted. 2010                                India became the last country in the world to introduce measles second dose in the national immunization programme; 21 States provided MCV2 in routine immunization and rest of the States started  conducting measles catch up campaigns. 2011                                Last wild polio virus case reported from India. National Vaccine Policy of India released. Open Vial Policy was implemented for select vaccines in UIP. 2012                                Draft comprehensive Multi Year strategic Plan (MYP) for UIP (2012-2017) ready. Declared as Year of ‘Intensification of Routine Immunization’ in India. WHO removed India from the list of polio endemic countries.