📖
In-Depth Article
UIP Vaccine Schedule India — Complete Parent & Doctor Guide
Why each vaccine is given at its specific age, what happens if doses are missed, government schemes, and common myths — explained by a practicing doctor.
Read Article →
1Why India's Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) Matters
India's Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) is one of the largest public health initiatives globally, providing free vaccines against 12 life-threatening diseases to over 26 million newborns and 29 million pregnant women annually.
While national vaccination coverage has exceeded 90% for primary antigens, delayed and missed doses remain a notable challenge. A core principle of pediatric immunology is that missed doses never require restarting a series—clinicians and parents should always resume from the exact dose that was missed while maintaining minimum interval spacing.
2Catch-Up Vaccination Schedule for Missed Doses
| Antigen | Catch-Up Age Limit | Minimum Interval | Clinical Notes & Safety Mandates |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCG | Up to 1 year AGE LIMIT | Single dose | Not recommended after 1 year for routine catch-up. Scar absence does not imply vaccine failure. |
| OPV-0 (Birth) | Up to 1 month | Single birth dose | Can be given as catch-up up to 1 month of age. |
| Hepatitis B (Birth) | Within 24 hours | — | Can be given up to 7 days, though less effective. Full 3-dose Pentavalent series still required. |
| OPV 1 / 2 / 3 | Up to 5 years | 4 weeks | fIPV is preferred for catch-up in children ≥1 year and immunocompromised patients. |
| Rotavirus (RVV) | 1st dose < 15 wks All doses < 8 mos | 4 weeks | STRICT SAFETY LIMITS: Do not start if child is ≥15 weeks. Complete all doses before 32 weeks (8 months) to prevent intussusception. |
| Pentavalent (DPT+HepB+Hib) | Up to 1 year | 4 weeks | After 1 year of age, give DPT, Hepatitis B, and Hib as separate individual vaccines. |
| fIPV (Fractional IPV) | Up to 5 years | 4 weeks | Intradermal administration; superior neuroprotection against circulating vaccine-derived polio. |
| PCV (Pneumococcal) | Up to 5 years | 8 weeks | Dose count depends on age at first dose (1 to 3 primary doses + optional booster). |
| Measles-Rubella (MR) | Up to 5 years | 4 weeks | Prior history of measles disease is not a contraindication; administer for rubella protection. |
| Japanese Encephalitis (JE) | Up to 15 years | 4 weeks | Indicated exclusively in government-notified JE-endemic districts. |
| DPT Boosters | Booster-1: 5 yrs Booster-2: 7 yrs | 6 months post-primary | After 7 years of age, switch to Td (Tetanus-Diphtheria) to avoid whole-cell pertussis reactogenicity. |
| Td (10 & 16 Years) | Anytime after 7 yrs | 5 years minimum | Maintain at least a 5-year interval between the 10-year and 16-year Td booster doses. |
3Vaccine-Specific Schedules & Guidelines
BCG — Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (TB Vaccine)
- When given: at birth (within 24 hours)
- Doses: 1 dose only
- Route & site: intradermal — left upper arm
- Catch-up age limit: up to 1 year of age
⚠️ Not recommended after 1 year for routine catch-up. A small raised scar at the site is normal and expected — absence of a scar does not mean the vaccine failed.
OPV-0 & HepB-0 — Birth Doses
- OPV-0 given at: birth, up to 1 month as catch-up
- HepB-0 given at: within 24 hours of birth, ideally; can extend to 7 days but is less effective after that window
- Full 3-dose HepB series still required regardless of birth-dose timing
Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV)
- Schedule: 3 doses at 6, 10, and 14 weeks
- Minimum interval: 4 weeks between doses
⚠️ Two strict, non-negotiable limits: the first dose must be given before 15 weeks of age, and all doses must be completed before 8 months (32 weeks). Do not start the series if the child is already 15 weeks or older, and do not give any dose after 8 months — this is a safety cutoff for intussusception risk.
Pentavalent — DPT + HepB + Hib
- Schedule: 3 doses at 6, 10, and 14 weeks
- Catch-up limit: as Pentavalent, only up to 1 year of age
- After 1 year: give DPT, HepB, and Hib as separate injections
fIPV — Fractional Inactivated Polio Vaccine
- Schedule: 2 doses at 6 and 14 weeks (intradermal, fractional dose)
- Catch-up limit: up to 5 years
- Preferred over OPV for catch-up in children ≥1 year and in immunocompromised children
PCV — Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine
- Standard schedule: 6 weeks, 14 weeks, plus a booster at 9–12 months
- Minimum interval: 8 weeks between doses
- Catch-up limit: up to 5 years
- State availability under UIP: Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana
| Age at 1st Dose | Primary Doses | Booster |
|---|---|---|
| 2–6 months | 3 doses | Yes — at 9–12 months |
| 7–11 months | 2 doses | Yes — at 12–15 months |
| 12–23 months | 2 doses (8 weeks apart) | No booster needed |
| ≥24 months | 1 dose only | No booster needed |
MR — Measles-Rubella Vaccine
- Schedule: MR-1 at 9–12 months, MR-2 at 16–24 months
- Catch-up limit: up to 5 years routinely (up to 15 years in campaign settings)
- Minimum interval: 4 weeks between dose 1 and dose 2
- Prior measles disease is not a contraindication — vaccinate on schedule for rubella protection regardless
JE — Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine
- Given only in government-notified endemic districts
- Schedule: JE-1 at 9–12 months, JE-2 at 16–24 months
- Catch-up limit: up to 15 years in endemic areas
- Minimum interval: 4 weeks between doses
TD — Tetanus-Diphtheria (School Age)
- Schedule: dose 1 at 10 years, dose 2 at 16 years
- Minimum interval: 5 years between the two doses (mandatory)
- If the 10-year dose was missed, it can be given anytime after 7 years — maintain the 5-year gap from there
- TD contains no pertussis component (unlike DPT) — appropriate for older children and adults
Vitamin A Supplementation
- 1st dose: at 9–12 months, given with MR-1 — 1,00,000 IU
- Subsequent doses: every 6 months until 5 years — 2,00,000 IU each
- Total: 9 doses over the full course, given orally at UIP sessions
12
Diseases prevented by UIP
26M+
Newborns reached annually
Birth–16
Years covered by schedule
Free
All UIP vaccines at govt. centres
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the catch-up vaccination schedule for missed UIP doses in India?+
As per IAP guidelines, never restart a series — resume from the exact dose that was missed. Pentavalent catch-up is only until 1 year; after that give DPT, HepB, and Hib separately. Rotavirus's first dose must be before 15 weeks, with all doses completed before 8 months. BCG catch-up runs until 1 year, MR until 5 years, and JE until 15 years in endemic areas. TD can be given anytime after 7 years with a 5-year minimum interval between doses.
What is the Rotavirus vaccine catch-up age limit in India?+
Rotavirus has two separate age limits: the first dose must be given before 15 weeks of age, and all doses must be completed before 8 months (32 weeks). Do not give any dose after 8 months — this is a strict safety cutoff for intussusception risk. If a child is already 15 weeks or older, do not start the Rotavirus series at all.
What is the BCG vaccine catch-up age limit in India UIP?+
BCG can be given as catch-up up to 1 year of age; after that routine catch-up is not recommended. OPV-0 (the birth dose) can be given up to 1 month, and HepB-0 is ideally given within 24 hours but can be given up to 7 days (with reduced effectiveness after that).
What is the DPT booster schedule under India UIP?+
DPT Booster-1 is given at 16–24 months (catch-up until 5 years), and Booster-2 at 5–6 years (catch-up until 7 years). After 7 years, use Td rather than DPT. TD is then given at 10 and 16 years with a minimum 5-year interval between doses. Note that Pentavalent catch-up is only available until 1 year of age.
What is the TD vaccine minimum interval in India UIP?+
The minimum interval between the two TD doses is 5 years. TD is routinely given at 10 years and 16 years; if the 10-year dose was missed, it can be given anytime after 7 years, but the 5-year gap from that dose must still be maintained.
What vaccines are given at birth under India UIP?+
At birth, three vaccines are due: BCG (within 24 hours, catch-up until 1 year), OPV-0 (ideally at birth, catch-up up to 1 month), and HepB-0 (within 24 hours, catch-up up to 7 days though less effective after that window).
What is the UIP schedule at 6, 10, and 14 weeks?+
At 6 weeks: OPV-1, Pentavalent-1, fIPV-1, Rotavirus-1, PCV-1. At 10 weeks: OPV-2, Pentavalent-2, Rotavirus-2. At 14 weeks: OPV-3, Pentavalent-3, fIPV-2, Rotavirus-3, PCV-2.
What is the PCV catch-up schedule in India?+
PCV catch-up is available until 5 years of age. Starting at 2–6 months: 3 doses plus a booster. Starting at 7–11 months: 2 doses plus a booster. Starting at 12–23 months: 2 doses, no booster. Starting at 24 months or older: a single dose. PCV is available under UIP in Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana.
What is the JE vaccine catch-up age in India?+
JE vaccine is given only in endemic districts. JE-1 is given at 9–12 months and JE-2 at 16–24 months, with a minimum 4-week interval between doses. Catch-up is possible up to 15 years of age in endemic areas.
Can vaccines be administered during mild febrile illnesses?+
Yes. Mild fever below 38.5°C, cold, cough, and mild diarrhoea are not contraindications per IAP guidelines. Only severe febrile illness above 38.5°C warrants a delay — never miss vaccination for a minor illness.
When is Pentavalent replaced by separate vaccines?+
Pentavalent (the DPT+HepB+Hib combination) catch-up is only available until 1 year of age. After 1 year, give DPT, HepB, and Hib as three separate vaccines — the combination isn't available in separate formulations for older children under UIP.
Related Searches
Medical Disclaimer: This immunization tracker is based on UIP and IAP guidelines. Local state health modifications or private practitioner schedules may vary. Always verify records against official state immunization cards.