• Immunisation is one of the most effective and cost-efficient intervention for controlling and eradicating diseases, saving millions of lives globally each year. Vaccines help protect individuals from many diseases. 

• By reducing the incidence of infectious diseases, immunisation not only safeguards individuals but also strengthens community health by building herd immunity. 

• World Immunisation Day, observed annually on November 10, aims to raise awareness about the vital role vaccines play in preventing infectious diseases and protecting public health. 

• This day encourages governments, healthcare providers, and communities worldwide to emphasize the importance of vaccines and extend immunisation coverage, especially to underserved populations.

• Immunisation has been a central focus in India’s public health strategy for decades, leading to remarkable progress in reducing disease prevalence and child mortality rates. 

• World Immunisation Day serves as an opportunity to reaffirm India’s commitment to achieving universal immunisation and to reflect on the progress made through landmark initiatives, including the Universal Immunisation Programme and Mission Indradhanush. 

Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP)

• The Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) is one of India’s most comprehensive public health initiatives, aiming to provide life-saving vaccines to millions of newborns and pregnant women each year. 

• Initially launched in 1978 as the Expanded Programme on Immunisation, it was rebranded as the UIP in 1985 when its coverage was extended beyond urban centres to rural areas, addressing disparities in healthcare access. 

• In 1992, the UIP was incorporated into the Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme and later, in 1997, into the National Reproductive and Child Health Programme. 

• Since 2005, under the National Rural Health Mission, the UIP has become a central component of India’s public health efforts, focusing on ensuring that vaccines reach every child, even in the most remote parts of the country.

• With a targeted annual reach of around 2.67 crore newborns and 2.9 crore pregnant women, the UIP has become one of the most cost-effective health interventions in the country, significantly reducing the under-5 mortality rate from 45 per 1,000 live births in 2014 to 32 per 1,000 live births (SRS 2020). 

• With consistent efforts to reach and vaccinate all eligible children against vaccine-preventable diseases, the country’s immunisation coverage for FY 2023-24 stands at 93.23 per cent nationally.

• Currently, the programme provides free immunisation against 12 diseases, including nine nationwide, such as diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, and hepatitis B. 

• Additionally, it offers vaccines against Rotavirus diarrhoea, Pneumococcal pneumonia, and Japanese Encephalitis in specific regions. 

• Under this initiative, a child is considered fully immunised after receiving all vaccinations as per the national schedule within the first year of life. 

• Notable milestones include India’s elimination of polio in 2014 and maternal and neonatal tetanus in 2015, achievements that underscore the impact of the UIP in protecting public health.

Mission Indradhanush

• Mission Indradhanush, launched in December 2014, is a strategic initiative by the Indian government aimed at increasing the full immunisation coverage for children across the country, with a goal to reach 90 per cent coverage. 

• Mission Indradhanush specifically focuses on areas with low immunisation rates, including hard-to-reach regions and communities where children are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated. 

• This mission adopts a targeted approach, prioritising districts and pockets where immunisation levels remain low, thereby striving to bridge critical gaps in vaccine coverage and ensuring that no child is left unprotected. 

• Since its inception, 12 phases of Mission Indradhanush have been completed, covering 554 districts nationwide.

• Mission Indradhanush has been integrated into other significant national programmes, such as the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan and the Extended Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, further enhancing its outreach. 

• Under these programmes, immunisation efforts extended to 16,850 villages across 541 districts and 48,929 villages across 117 aspirational districts, respectively. 

• The first two phases of Mission Indradhanush alone led to a 6.7 per cent increase in full immunisation coverage in just one year, reflecting its early success.

Polio-free India

• On March 27, 2014, India, along with 10 other countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region, was officially certified as polio-free. India’s last reported case of polio was on January 13, 2011, in Howrah, West Bengal. 

• However, despite this certification, the country remains vigilant due to the persistent risk of poliovirus importation from the two countries where polio remains endemic — Afghanistan and Pakistan.

• India’s successful fight against polio has strengthened its broader immunisation infrastructure, which is now being leveraged to protect against a range of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPDs). 

Elimination of Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus (MNTE)

• India’s success in eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNTE) stands as a major public health accomplishment. Achieved in April 2015, well ahead of the global target of December 2015, MNTE validation was completed across all of India’s 36 states and Union Territories. 

• This milestone signifies that the incidence of maternal and neonatal tetanus has fallen to less than one case per 1,000 live births, effectively eliminating it as a public health problem. 

India declared Yaws-free in 2016

• In 2016, India became the first country to be officially recognised as yaws-free by the World Health Organisation (WHO), achieving this well before the global target year of 2020. 

• This recognition highlights India’s proactive and sustained efforts to eradicate the disease, which primarily affects rural and marginalised communities. 

• The elimination of yaws reflects comprehensive public health efforts focused on early treatment, health education, and targeted interventions for vulnerable populations.

U-Win

• The U-WIN Portal represents a major leap forward in India’s immunisation efforts, providing a fully digitised record of vaccination for pregnant women and children from birth to 17 years under the Universal Immunisation Programme. 

• This digital platform aims to streamline vaccine delivery and record-keeping, ensuring that every individual can easily access and manage their immunisation records. 

• The U-WIN portal is available in 11 regional languages, including Hindi, to ensure widespread usability across diverse linguistic communities. As of September 16, 2024, the platform has registered 6.46 crore beneficiaries, conducted over 1.04 crore vaccination sessions, and recorded 23.06 crore administered vaccine doses.

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