The Ultimate Vaccination Chart For Babies In India

Immunization or vaccination is a process in which the vaccine is administered to the child by the doctor. This is done with the objective that the child develops immunity to that particular disease. The vaccine resembles the disease-causing microorganism and is often made from the weakened or killed form of the microbes. It generates antibodies (proteins made by the body) to fight the disease. What if we had all a list and a video of the vaccination chart for babies living in India? Would that help?

The Ultimate Vaccination Chart for Babies - doctor vaccinating the child

Why immunization?

Immunization can be considered as an important breakthrough in medical history and has resulted in eradicating some of the deadly diseases. Vaccines are administered with the sole objective to provide direct immunity (passive immunization) or generate an immune response in our body (active immunization). Babies are born with protection against ‘some’ diseases because their mothers have passed on disease-fighting antibodies to them during pregnancy. Breastfed babies continue to get enough supply of antibodies in breast milk. Not to take a chance, we still prefer to vaccinate our child.

How Immunization helps?

The vaccinations not only prevent our little ones from life-threatening diseases but also from falling sick again (e.g. administering flu shots has become a seasonal trend). Most serious diseases like Polio and Diphtheria are almost eliminated from India. Let us understand how vaccines help to build immunity. 

Well, according to Kids Health, germs can be viruses, example Measles or bacteria such as Pneumococcus. Vaccines stimulate the immune system to react as if there is a real infection. It fends off the “infection” and remembers the germ. Then, it can fight the germ if it enters the body later.

In the present scenario where the world is wanting to speed up the process for the invention of COVID-19 vaccines and debating over making it affordable, the need for a vaccine to fight the disease cannot be emphasized enough!

The schedule of immunization:

The vaccination chart for babies video will help the reader understand which vaccine to be given and at which age is very crucial for the parents. Also knowing which vaccine protects the child from which disease is important to understand the process of Immunization. There are advances being made in the field of medical research and so is the schedule of immunization evolving. As parents, we need to update ourselves. The vaccination of a baby also depends on which part of the world the family resides. In India, healthcare practitioners are largely following the IAP (Indian Academy of Paediatrics) schedule. But there may be minor variations within the states.

Video conceived and created by MotionJokey

The ultimate vaccination chart for babies in India – As per 2018-2019 IAP immunization schedule:

WhenVaccination NameDiseases it prevents fromAdditional note
At birthBCG, HEP.B, OPVTuberculosis (mainly brain T.B.) Hepatitis B, PolioShould be given before discharge from hospital after birth (BCG will leave a mark (SCAR) on your baby’s arm forever!!
6 weeks (1.5 months)DTwP/DTaP, IPV/OPV, HEPB, HiB, PCV, ROTAVIRAL dropsDiphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Hemo.influenza, Rotaviral diarrheaAccording to IAP painful DPT vaccine is more immunogenic than painless DPT!
10weeks (2.5 months)DTwP/DTaP, IPV/OPV, HEPB, HiB, PCV, ROTAVIRAL dropsSame as above
14 weeks (3.5 months)DTwP/DTaP, IPV/OPV, HEP B, HiB, PCV, ROTAVIRAL dropsSame as aboveFor above 3 months vaccinations  ideally same type of vaccine be used (like if painful at 6weeks then same painful at 10 and 14weeks),even try to keep the brands of vaccine also same!!
6 monthsFLU
TYPHOID TCV
Flu illness, Swine flu (depending on the vaccine used), Typhoid feverLatest schedule (2019) recommends it as compulsory vaccine Typhoid vaccine can be given anywhere between 6 months to 12 months
9 monthsMMRMeasles, Mumps, RubellaOral polio drops give with most of the vaccines
12 monthsHEP AHepatitis A Depending on live or inactivated 1 or 2 shots are required
15 monthsMMR booster, VARICELLA, PCV boosterVaricella as in ChickenpoxThe vaccine prevents chickenpox and its severity (so even after the vaccination if child gets chickenpox it will be mild)!!
18monthsDTwP/DTaP, Hib boosterPainful or painless anything can be chosen here (affectivity is same)
2yearsTYPHOID
4- 6 yearsMMR booster, VARICELLA booster, DPT booster
9-10 yearsTdap
HPV
Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (in low dose) Human Papillomavirus (HPV) prevents cervical cancerHPV vaccine not only prevents cervical cancer but also genital warts and is given in males also!!
Vaccines in special situationsMeningococcalJE, Cholera, Yellow FeverPrevents Meningitis, Japanese Encephalitis (chamki bukhar!)
These are not compulsory and are recommended in endemic areas and kids who are immunocompromised
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by Dr. Charu Khanna is an enthusiastic pediatrician, a pediatric nutritionist and a lactation consultant with over 12 years of experience taking care of preterm babies to unhealthy adolescents.  

Edited by C.Radhika

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