When you go for immunization or vaccination of your child you find the vaccination schedule given at govt hospitals is slightly different than that followed in private set up. This may create confusion in the minds of people. Here we are going to discuss the national immunization schedule in detail. The national immunization schedule is a vaccination schedule or vaccination chart that is followed at govt hospitals.
National immunization schedule
| At birth | BCG OPV-0 dose Hepatitis B vaccine birth dose |
| 6 weeks | OPV-1 Pentavalent-1 Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV)-1 Fractional dose of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (fIPV)-1 Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) -1* |
| 10 weeks | OPV-2 Pentavalent-2 RVV-2 |
| 10 weeks | OPV-3 Pentavalent-3 Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV)-3 Fractional dose of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (fIPV)-3 Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) -2* |
| 9-12 months | Measles & Rubella (MR)-1 JE-1** PCV-Booster* |
| 16-24 months | MR-2 JE-2** Diphtheria, Pertussis & Tetanus (DPT)-Booster-1 OPV – Booster |
| 5-6 years | DPT Booster-2 |
| 10 years | Tetanus and adult diphtheria Td |
| 16 years | Td |
| Pregnant woman | Td-1, Td-2, Td booster |
* PCV in selected states/districts: Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh (selected districts) and Rajasthan; in Haryana as state initiative
** JE in endemic districts only
*** One dose if previously vaccinated within 3 years
Following are the most common queries asked by the parents with their answers:
Table of Contents
Why is the national immunization schedule different from private hospitals?
National immunization schedule is designed to cater to the large population of the country. It is provided at nominal or free of cost to the entire population through a national programme.
While following this strategy effective use of existing facilities is aimed to cater the maximum amount of population.
The disease significant to an individual may not be significant at community level. In national immunization schedules diseases that harm the community at large are targeted with priority.
Government may have funding and manpower scarcity to work so effective use of existing capacity is the aim.
The vaccine schedule recommended in the national immunization schedule may be ideal for the community but may not prevent all diseases that you may want to prevent.
Why do private hospitals give many more vaccines than the National immunization schedule?
Private practitioners and private hospitals follow universal immunization schedules. It includes many vaccines that are not yet available in the National immunization schedule.
Private practitioners serve you for your better health. So here rather than community your best health is the concern.
Private hospitals do not have funding and manpower restrictions. They can serve your better interest.
It is not cost effective to provide vaccines to all for all diseases but you cannot afford to fall ill with diseases.
Which is a better vaccination schedule?
Many of you are confused whether the vaccine schedule in private is better or the national immunization schedule is better.
The choice is yours. National immunization schedule is targeted to serve the community better. If you can afford to pay extra for extra vaccines for the prevention of more illnesses it is better to get vaccinated with a vaccine schedule in private hospitals.
Slowly the National immunization schedule is improving and they too are including more vaccines in the immunization programmes.
Can we take remaining vaccines from private practitioners or hospitals?
Many parents ask us whether they can get some vaccines from private and some from govt hospitals. Here is the answer!
Definitely YES you can take vaccines in the National immunization schedule from the government hospitals and remaining additional vaccine shots from the private.
But for this you need to coordinate with your pediatrician so that we can guide you better and advise you about vaccination.
What is the benefit vaccines from private set up?
Like any other service from the government and private the main difference is better individual attention.
As in private we have less number of patients. We can provide you better individual attention and can give you personal consultation for common parental queries.
As we have more time for each patient we can assess the health condition of your better and monitor the growth and nutrition too.
In private vaccination is available all the seven days a week and at the time you want.
Here as expert pediatricians we can advise you about any remaining or skipped doses.
If you get any side effects after vaccination, we can provide you better individual attention for all the issues.
