Are you struggling with understanding your child’s vaccination schedule? For that, The Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Immunization Practices of the IAP (Indian Academy of Pediatrics) prepares a vaccination schedule every year. As a parent, you tend to be highly concerned about your child’s health. This is why keeping up with your child’s vaccination schedule is a must. So, read up about the IAP-recommended vaccination schedule for the year 2020-21 and learn all about it.

The Importance of Following a Vaccination Schedule

A vaccination schedule can act as a precursor for a better understanding of your child’s vaccination. As a result, it helps you keep a routine, ensuring the protection of your child against harmful diseases. More so, timely vaccination shields your child from life-threatening diseases like Polio, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, etc., but only if you stick to the schedules.

List Of Mandatory Vaccines

  • BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guerin)
  • Hepatitis A & Hepatitis B
  • OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine) & IPV (Inactivated Polio Vaccine)
  • DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus)
  • Hib (Haemophilus Influenzae type B)
  • PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine)
  • Rotavirus Vaccine
  • Influenza Vaccine
  • MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella)
  • Varicella
  • TCV (Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine)

List Of Special Vaccines (Advised In Special Conditions)

  • Meningococcal Vaccine
  • JE (Japanese Encephalitis)
  • Cholera
  • Rabies
  • Yellow Fever
  • PPSV 23 (Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine)

Recommended Vaccination Schedule At Childbirth

  • BCG (Bacillus Calmette Guerin): Protects against Tuberculosis disease. Tuberculosis affects the lungs. It can even cause damage to other parts of the body, including liver, kidney, heart, and joint damage in the long run.
  • Hep B 1 (Hepatitis B): Protects from Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B causes inflammation and other complications in the liver.
  • OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine): Protects from Polio. Besides causing paralysis of the body, polio leads to permanent disability. Therefore, resulting in death.

Vaccine Schedule For Children Aged 6-14 Weeks

  • Hep B 2 & B 3: Protects from Hepatitis B.
  • IPV 1, 2 & 3 (Inactivated Polio Vaccine): Protects from Polio.
  • DPT 1, 2 & 3: Firstly, protects from Diphtheria– nose and throat infection, resulting in breathing difficulty that can lead to death. Secondly, Pertussis (whooping cough)- acute coughing that can lead to pneumonia and brain damage. Similarly, it also prevents Tetanus– an infection that spreads through cuts/wounds on the skin.
  • Hib 1, 2 & 3: Prevents Haemophilus Influenzae type B disease, which consequently causes bronchitis and swelling in the throat. Thus, making it too hard to breathe.
  • PCV 1, 2 & 3 (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine): Prevents Pneumococcal disease (results in an infection in ears, nose, blood). Also, it causes infection in the inner lining of the brain (meningitis) and lungs (pneumonia).
  • RV 1 & 2 (Rotavirus Vaccine): Protects from Rotavirus, which causes diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. Furthermore, it can cause abdominal pain in young children and infants.

Vaccination Schedule For Children Aged 6-12 Months

  • Influenza 1 & 2: Protects from Influenza viruses (cause infection in nose, throat, and lungs).
  • MMR 1: Protects against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (fever, rash, headache, red-itchy eyes that can result in other serious complications).
  • TCV: Significantly protects from Typhoid. Typhoid causes high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. Besides causing loss of appetite and stomach pain.
  • Hep A 1: Protects against Hepatitis A (caused due to inflammation in the liver).
Baby vaccinations

Baby vaccinations

Recommended Vaccine Schedule For Children Aged 13-18 Months

  • IPV Booster 1: Protects from Polio.
  • DPT Booster 1: Protects from Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus.
  • Hib Booster 1: Protects from Hemophilus Influenzae type B.
  • PCV Booster: Protects from Pneumococcal disease.
  • MMR 2: Protects against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella.
  • Chicken Pox 1: Protects from Chicken Pox, especially causes itchy rashes on the entire body. Although it’s not a serious disease, it can further become fatal for a weak immune system.

Vaccination Schedule For Children Aged 18-24 Months

  • Hep A 2: Protects against Hepatitis A.
  • Chicken Pox 2: Protects against Chicken Pox.

Vaccine Schedule For Children Aged 2-6 Years

  • IPV Booster 2 (4-6 years): Protects from Polio disease.
  • DPT Booster 2 (4-6 years): The booster dose totally protects your child from Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus.
  • MMR 3 (4-6 years): The 3rd dose of MMR subsequently prevents Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. 

Conclusion

If you want your baby to grow up getting immunized against deadly diseases, then following a vaccination schedule is necessary. Although a schedule can help, we’ve made the process even easier for you. ImmunifyMe can help you keep track of your baby’s immunization records! We offer an online space where you can keep your child’s vaccination records safe. Moreover, we provide regular vaccination reminders. And lastly, you can avail the benefit of telemedicine consultations! So, why wait? Download the ImmunifyMe App from your Google Play Store now.

FAQs On The Latest Immunization Schedules In India

What Are WHO Recommended Vaccines For Babies In India?

The WHO recommends a range of vaccines for babies across the world which are covered in India’s immunization schedules. Apart from these, they have country-specific vaccine recommendations as well.

How Many Vaccines Are Given To Babies In India?

Babies get 12 different vaccines under India’s Universal Immunization Programme, as listed out in the National Immunization Programme schedule. Comparatively, the IAP schedule has a total of 35-40 vaccines a child will receive till the age of 18.

What Is The Most Recent Vaccine?

The most recent vaccine was the meningococcal serogroup B vaccine. Meant to treat meningitis, it was introduced in 2014.

Which Vaccine Is Given At 10 Years?

Children that are 10 years old need to first get Tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough (pertussis), understood as the DTaP vaccine. This is followed by shots for Hepatitis A (HepA) and Hepatitis B (HepB), and lastly, and Polio (IPV).