Child Vaccination Schedule in India: An Age-Wise Guide for Parents

Why Following a Vaccination Schedule Matters

Childhood vaccines are timed the way they are for a reason: each dose is scheduled at the age when a baby's immune system can respond well, and when protection is most needed against diseases that are more dangerous in early infancy. Following a recognised schedule, rather than spacing doses out informally, gives your child the intended level of protection at each stage.

Birth to 14 Weeks: The Early Vaccine Series

In India, newborns are typically given BCG, the first dose of Hepatitis B, and an oral polio dose at birth or within the first few days. From 6 weeks of age, a primary series begins — commonly covering DTaP/DTwP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis), IPV (polio), Hib, pneumococcal (PCV) and rotavirus vaccines — repeated at 10 weeks and again at 14 weeks, often as combination shots to reduce the number of injections per visit.

6 to 9 Months: Typhoid, Flu and the First MMR Dose

Between roughly 6 and 9 months, the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine is usually introduced, and annual influenza vaccination can begin from 6 months onward. The first dose of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine is typically given around 9 months in the India-specific schedule recommended by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), which starts MMR a little earlier than some Western schedules because of local measles risk patterns.

12 to 18 Months: Hepatitis A, the Second MMR Dose and Boosters

The first Hepatitis A dose is usually given around 12 months, followed by the second MMR dose and the first chickenpox (varicella) dose around 15 months, alongside a pneumococcal booster. Booster doses of DTaP/DTwP, IPV and Hib typically follow between 16 and 18 months, with a second Hepatitis A dose later. Further boosters, including a second varicella dose and a third MMR-related booster in some protocols, are generally recommended around school-entry age (4 to 6 years).

यह शेड्यूल हिंदी में समझें

भारत में बच्चों के टीकाकरण (tikakaran) का कार्यक्रम जन्म से शुरू होता है और लगभग 6 साल की उम्र तक चलता है। जन्म के समय BCG, पोलियो और हेपेटाइटिस-बी की पहली डोज़ दी जाती है, उसके बाद 6, 10 और 14 हफ्तों पर कई टीकों की सीरीज़ दी जाती है। 9 महीने पर MMR की पहली डोज़ और 12 महीने के बाद हेपेटाइटिस-ए, MMR की दूसरी डोज़ व अन्य बूस्टर दिए जाते हैं। सही समय पर टीकाकरण बच्चे को गंभीर बीमारियों से बचाने में मदद करता है।

Why Your Child's Exact Schedule May Look Slightly Different

You may notice small differences between the schedule your pediatrician follows and something you read online. This is normal — the government's Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) and the IAP-recommended schedule differ slightly in which additional vaccines they include and at what exact age, and individual health history can also affect timing. This is one reason a pediatrician's guidance matters more than any single printed chart.

If a Dose Gets Missed or Delayed

Life happens — illness, travel, or a missed appointment can push a dose later than planned. The reassuring general principle followed by pediatricians is that a vaccine series does not need to be restarted from the beginning just because time has passed between doses; a catch-up plan can usually bring a child back on track. Read our detailed guide to catch-up vaccination schedules if your child has fallen behind.

Planning Your Child's Vaccination Visits

Keeping a simple written or app-based record of which doses your child has had

Frequently Asked Questions