What is the Status of Immunisation in India? - Social Issues | UPSC Learning

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What is the Status of Immunisation in India?

What is the Status of Immunisation in India?

Medium⏱️ 7 min read95% Verified
social issues

📖 Introduction

<h4>Introduction to India's Immunisation Programme</h4><p><strong>Immunisation</strong> is a critical public health intervention that prevents millions of deaths globally. In <strong>India</strong>, this vital program is spearheaded by the <strong>Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)</strong>.</p><div class='key-point-box'><p>The <strong>UIP</strong> stands as one of the <strong>world's most extensive public health programmes</strong>. Its vast scale reflects <strong>India's</strong> commitment to safeguarding the health of its youngest citizens and expectant mothers.</p></div><h4>Scale and Reach of UIP</h4><p>The <strong>Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)</strong> demonstrates an impressive reach across the nation. It targets a significant portion of the population to ensure widespread protection against vaccine-preventable diseases.</p><div class='info-box'><p>Annually, the <strong>UIP</strong> successfully vaccinates:</p><ul><li>More than <strong>30 million pregnant women</strong></li><li>Over <strong>27 million children</strong></li></ul><p>This extensive coverage is crucial for building herd immunity and reducing disease burden.</p></div><h4>Defining a Fully Immunised Child</h4><p>Understanding what constitutes a <strong>fully immunised child</strong> is fundamental to assessing the success and coverage of <strong>immunisation programmes</strong>. This definition guides health workers and policymakers.</p><div class='info-box'><p>A child is officially considered <strong>fully immunised</strong> if they:</p><ul><li>Receive <strong>all the required vaccines</strong></li><li>Adhere to the <strong>national immunisation schedule</strong></li><li>Complete this schedule within their <strong>first year of life</strong></li></ul></div><div class='exam-tip-box'><p><strong>UPSC Insight:</strong> Questions on <strong>public health programmes</strong> often require knowledge of their scale, beneficiaries, and definitions of success metrics like 'fully immunised'. Be prepared to discuss the challenges and achievements of <strong>UIP</strong> in your answers for <strong>GS Paper II: Social Justice</strong>.</p></div>
Concept Diagram

💡 Key Takeaways

  • India's Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is one of the world's largest public health initiatives.
  • UIP annually vaccinates over 30 million pregnant women and 27 million children.
  • A child is fully immunised if they receive all required vaccines per the national schedule within their first year of life.
  • The programme is crucial for reducing child mortality and morbidity from vaccine-preventable diseases.
  • Initiatives like Mission Indradhanush aim to boost full immunisation coverage across the country.

🧠 Memory Techniques

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📚 Reference Sources

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India (for UIP details and statistics)
WHO and UNICEF reports on global immunisation coverage (for contextual understanding)