Welcoming your newborn baby into this world is an experience like no other. It’s filled with joy, excitement, and a bit of anxiety about wanting to be your child’s best parent. It is true when people say that bringing your newborn into this world is just the first step; there’s so much more to happen later.
Among everything you can do for your baby, ensuring timely and safe immunization is one of the first things. Vaccinations protect infants from various diseases and build a strong foundation for a healthy life.
In India, the government has implemented a comprehensive vaccination schedule to safeguard children from preventable illnesses. This article will explore all the essential vaccinations, detailing the vaccines, their significance, and the recommended timing for administration.
What is the Importance of Vaccination?
Vaccination is a preventive measure that helps the immune system recognize and fight specific pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses. During infancy, administering vaccinations is especially crucial to protect the baby from harmful pathogens while its immune system is developing.
Following are a few factors that explain the importance of vaccination for newborns:
It can save your child’s life
Since newborns are highly fragile and their immune system is developing, it is often difficult for them to fight against certain deadly diseases like Polio, which are preventable with timely administration of vaccinations. So, in short, timely immunization saves your child’s life.
It is safe and effective
There is a lot of chatter surrounding vaccination, especially when it involves newborns. You need to know that vaccinations are completely safe and effective, as found in thousands of scientific researches. The only downside or side-effects include the temporary pain from the injection.
It protects other children you care about
Diseases like whooping cough, which are quite persistent in countries like the U.S., are preventable with vaccinations. When you decide not to vaccinate your newborn or baby, their contraction of the disease can also affect someone else with a compromised immune system, cancer, allergies, etc.
It can save time and money
Believe it or not, it’s true. Vaccination safeguards the newborn and your family against various diseases, thereby keeping the medical bills in check. In some cases, non-vaccinated children are also at risk of long-term disabilities, which can be heavily taxing on a family’s time and financial status.
Newborn Baby Vaccination Schedule in India
The vaccination schedule in India is designed to protect against various diseases. Parents need to be aware of the recommended vaccines and their respective timelines.
Before we walk you through the list of the vaccinations administered to newborns and children (up to the age of 16 years), let us explain the significance of each vaccine first:
For newborns:
BCG – Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine protects against tuberculosis.
Hepatitis B birth dose – It is administered within 24 hours of birth to prevent mother-to-child transmission and provides early protection against Hepatitis B.
OPV-0 – This is the first dose of polio vaccine to provide immunity against poliovirus.
OPV 1, 2, & 3 – This refers to the subsequent doses of the oral polio vaccine in the immunization schedule.
Pentavalent1, 2 & 3 – This refers to the three doses of the pentavalent vaccine that combines protection against five diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib).
Rotavirus – This is often given in multiple doses to help protect infants and young children against rotavirus infections.
IPV – It stands for Inactivated Polio Vaccine, which is administered through injection.
Measles /MR 1st Dose – This vaccine protects against MR (Measles-Rubella) or MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella).
JE – 1 – JE-1 refers to the first dose of the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine, which protects the baby against Japanese Encephalitis, a viral infection that can cause brain inflammation.
Vitamin A (1st dose) – This is administered to promote overall health and prevent vitamin A deficiency-related conditions.
For children:
DPT booster-1 – This refers to the first booster dose of the DPT vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus.
Measles/ MR 2nd dose – The second dose of the Measles-Rubella (MR) or Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine is given to enhance and prolong immunity against measles, mumps, and rubella.
OPV Booster – This includes the oral polio vaccine, which is given in multiple doses during routine childhood vaccinations.
JE-2 – This refers to the second dose of the Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine.
Vitamin A – This involves the 2nd to 9th dose of the vaccine.
DPT Booster-2 – This refers to the second booster dose of the DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus) vaccine.
TT – It stands for Tetanus Toxoid, a vaccine used to protect against tetanus.
The following is a detailed overview of the newborn baby vaccination schedule in India:
| FOR NEWBORNS | |||
| Name of the vaccine | When to give? | Dosage | Where to give? |
| BCG | At birth or as early within the first year of birth | 0.1ml (0.05ml until 1 month age) | Left upper arm (intradermal injection) |
| Hepatitis B – Birth dose | Right after birth or within 24 hours of birth | 0.5 ml | Antero-lateral side of mid-thigh (intramuscular injection) |
| OPV-0 | Right after birth or within 15 days of birth | 2 drops | Orally |
| OPV 1, 2 & 3 | At 6 weeks, 10 weeks & 14 weeks | 2 drops | Orally |
| Pentavalent1, 2 & 3 | At 6 weeks, 10 weeks & 14 weeks | 0.5 ml | Antero-lateral side of mid-thigh (intramuscular injection) |
| Rotavirus | At 6 weeks, 10 weeks & 14 weeks | 5 drops | Orally |
| IPV | At 6 weeks and 14 weeks (fractional doses) | 0.1 ml | Right upper arm (intradermal injection) |
| Measles /MR 1st Dose | 9 completed months-12 months. | 0.5 ml | Right upper arm (subcutaneous injection) |
| JE – 1 | 9 completed months-12 months. | 0.5 ml | Left upper arm (subcutaneous injection) |
| Vitamin A (1st dose) | At 9 months, when getting the MR vaccine | 1 ml | Orally |
| FOR CHILDREN | |||
| Name of the vaccine | When to give? | Dosage | Where to give? |
| DPT booster-1 | 16-24 months | 0.5 ml | Antero-lateral side of mid-thigh (intramuscular injection) |
| Measles/ MR 2nd dose | 16-24 months | 0.5 ml | Right upper arm (subcutaneous injection) |
| OPV Booster | 16-24 months | 2 drops | Orally |
| JE-2 | 16-24 months | 0.5 ml | Left upper arm (subcutaneous injection) |
| Vitamin A | 16-18 months for the second dose and then one dose interval of every 6 months up to the 9th dose | 2 ml | Orally |
| DPT Booster-2 | 5-6 years | 0.5 ml | Upper arm (intramuscular injection) |
| TT | 10 years & 16years | 0.5 ml | Upper arm (intramuscular injection) |
This concludes a list of all the vaccinations that your newborn and growing child need to ensure they are protected against all the diseases that can often be deadly.
Besides disease prevention, following the vaccination schedule helps establish herd immunity, where a significant portion of the population becomes immune to a disease, preventing its widespread transmission.
Conclusion
The newborn baby vaccination schedule in India is a comprehensive and well-thought-out plan designed to provide optimal protection against various diseases. If you are a first-time parent and want to ensure the best for your baby, following your doctor’s suggestions and sticking to the immunization schedule is quintessential to ensure your baby can lead a happy and healthy life. The gift of good health through vaccination is an investment in the future.
