India’s Vaccination Drive

Vaccination is a highly impactful, cost-effective intervention in India, reducing disease burden and building public trust. Despite hesitancy and access gaps, campaigns and tools like CoWIN have ensured wide, equitable coverage.

India’s Vaccination Drive: Facts and Data

COVID-19 Vaccination: 94.6% of Indians 12+ received one dose; 87.8% fully vaccinated (MoHFW).
Child Immunisation: 93.5% of 12–23-month-olds vaccinated with BCG, DPT, Polio, and Measles-Rubella.
UIP Scale: India runs the world’s largest Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), covering 12 vaccine-preventable diseases, with six new vaccines added in the past decade.
Child Mortality: India’s under-5 mortality declined from 45 (2014) to 31 (2021) per 1,000 live births.
Coverage Growth: Full immunisation coverage rose significantly after the launch of Mission Indradhanush (2014) and Intensified MI (2017)

Major Achievements

Polio-free since 2011, maternal and neonatal tetanus eliminated in 2015, and Yaws-free in 2016.
Mass Campaigns: Measles-Rubella drive vaccinated 34.8 crore children between 2017-19.
COVID-19 Vaccination: Over 220 crore doses administered by January 2023; 97% first dose and 90% double dose coverage.
Global Recognition: India received the Measles and Rubella Champion Award (2024) for regional efforts.
Vaccine Maitri Initiative: Supplied vaccines to several low and middle-income countries, reinforcing Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

Health Equity: Vaccines lowered under-5 mortality from 45 (2014) to 31 (2021) per 1,000 live births (MoHFW).
Universal Access: UIP and Mission Indradhanush cover 93.5% of children aged 12–23 months.
Vulnerable Protection: Zero-dose children dropped from 1.6 million (2023) to 0.9 million (2024), improving outreach (WHO, 2025).
Educational Equity: Polio and measles vaccination reduce school absenteeism, supporting inclusive education.
Community Trust: CoWIN and AI tracking in Fatehpur, UP, enhance transparency and participation.

Government Initiatives for Vaccination Drive in India

Universal Immunization Programme (UIP): Provide free vaccines to all children and pregnant women against major preventable diseases to reduce morbidity and mortality.
Mission Indradhanush: Achieve full immunization for children under two and pregnant women, especially in underserved areas, targeting key preventable diseases.
Har Ghar Dastak Campaign: Ensure door-to-door COVID-19 vaccination coverage, reaching unvaccinated individuals in rural and remote regions.
U-WIN Portal: Digitally track immunization, monitor vaccine supply, and ensure timely delivery for efficient program management.
HPV Vaccination Initiative: Prevent cervical cancer by providing free HPV vaccines to girls aged 9–14 under state-supported programs.
Vaccine Maitri Initiative: Support global vaccination and international cooperation by supplying COVID-19 vaccines to neighboring countries.

Challenges Associated

Hard-to-Reach Groups: Migratory, remote, and marginalised populations still face access barriers.
Vaccine Hesitancy: Anti-vaccine narratives affect coverage in some clusters.
Immunity Gaps: Measles outbreaks (2022-24) revealed setbacks caused by the COVID-19 disruption.
Infrastructure Gaps: Need for better last-mile delivery and cold chain in rural areas.

Key Lessons

Targeted Outreach: Zero-dose outreach and targeted interventions are essential to reach unreached populations.
Surveillance Integration: Disease surveillance must be closely integrated with immunisation efforts to plug immunity gaps quickly.
Trust Mobilisation: Public trust and community mobilisation are as important as supply chains.
One Health: A One Health approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health surveillance, is vital for future pandemic preparedness.

Way Forward

Primary Healthcare: Upgrade cold chain and train workers. India’s cold chain market reached USD 1.6 billion in 2024 and projected USD 2 billion by 2028.
Combat Misinformation: Use AI tools and ASHAs. E.g., SMARThealth GPT effectively addresses vaccine myths.
Political Commitment: Embed immunisation in national priorities. E.g., Gavi aims to vaccinate 500 million children, saving 8–9 million lives by 2030.
Last-Mile Delivery: eVIN and CoWIN track vaccines & eVIN covered 29,000+ facilities nationwide.
Public-Private Partnerships: NGOs and tech firms aid outreach. E.g., Vidal Health partners with Serum Institute to expand HPV vaccine access from 2025.

“Tackling vaccine hesitancy, leveraging vaccine diplomacy, & ensuring inclusive delivery with sustained political commitment are vital to maintain immunisation gains & uphold vaccines as social equalisers globally.”

Reference: The Hindu | PMFIAS: Vaccine Diplomacy

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 362

Approach

Introduction: Write a brief introduction about the vaccination campaign in India by mentioning the progress from Pulse Polio (1995) to COVID-19.
Body: Examine the successes, challenges, and the way forward in creating social trust and inclusivity through vaccine campaigns.
Conclusion: Emphasis on universal vaccination because it acts as not only medicine but a social equaliser.