Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect children from serious infectious diseases. Following the recommended immunization schedule helps build immunity from birth through adolescence.
This guide provides an age-wise child vaccination schedule based on the **Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) recommendations**, helping parents understand which vaccines are due and when. Timely vaccination is essential for your child's healthy growth and development.
## Child Vaccination Schedule in India
### 1. At Birth- BCG- Hepatitis B birth dose- Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV-0)
### 2. At 6 Weeks- DTaP/DTwP – 1- IPV – 1- Hepatitis B – as per combination vaccine schedule- Hib – 1- Rotavirus vaccine – 1- Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) – 1
### 3. At 10 Weeks- DTaP/DTwP – 2- IPV – 2, as recommended- Hib – 2- Rotavirus vaccine – 2- PCV – 2, as per schedule
### 4. At 14 Weeks- DTaP/DTwP – 3- IPV – 3- Hib – 3- Rotavirus vaccine – as per product schedule- PCV – 3, as per schedule
### 5. At 6 Months- Influenza vaccine, according to age and season- Other doses, if due under the selected vaccine schedule
### 6. At 9 Months- Measles-Rubella (MR) – 1- Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV), as recommended- Japanese Encephalitis (JE), in endemic areas- Other vaccines as advised by your pediatrician
### 7. At 12–15 Months- MMR – as per IAP schedule- PCV booster- Hepatitis A- Varicella- Other due vaccines according to the chosen schedule
### 8. At 16–18 Months- DTaP/DTwP booster- IPV booster, as recommended- Hib booster- MMR and other vaccines, if due
### 9. At 4–6 Years- DTaP/DTwP booster- Polio booster, as recommended- MMR booster, according to the schedule- Varicella booster, if due
### 10. At 9–14 Years and Adolescence- HPV vaccine- Tdap/Td booster- Other vaccines based on age, previous doses and individual risk
## Important Advice for Parents- Keep your child's vaccination card safe and bring it to every visit.- Do not delay vaccination without medical advice.- If a dose is missed, consult your pediatrician for a catch-up schedule. In most cases, the entire series does not need to be restarted.- Vaccination schedules may differ between the Government of India's Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) and the IAP schedule.- The exact vaccines and doses depend on your child's age, previous vaccinations, vaccine brand and medical history.
## Consult Your Pediatrician
For an age-appropriate vaccination plan, booster doses and catch-up vaccination, consult your pediatrician. Timely immunization is an important step towards protecting your child's health.
**Dr. Shubhanshu Saini**Consultant Pediatrician.
This article is for general information and does not replace a medical consultation. For your child's specific concern, please consult the doctor. In an emergency, go to the nearest emergency department.