Universal Immunisation Programme

Immunization Programme in India was introduced in 1978 as ‘Expanded Programme of Immunization’ (EPI) by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

• In 1985, the programme was modified as ‘Universal Immunization Programme’ (UIP) to be implemented in phased manner to cover all districts in the country by 1989-90 with the one of largest health programme in the world.
• It became a part of Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme in 1992 and came under the ambit of National Reproductive and Child Health Programme in 1997. UIP is an integral part of National Rural Health Mission since its launch in 2005
• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India provides several vaccines to infants, children and pregnant women through the Universal Immunisation Programme. UIP is one of the largest public health programmes targeting close to 26.7 million newborns and 29 million pregnant women annually.

Under UIP, immunization is being provided free of cost against 12 vaccine preventable diseases:

• Nationally against 10 diseases - Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella, severe form of Childhood Tuberculosis, Rotavirus diarrhea, Hepatitis B and Meningitis & Pneumonia caused by Haemophilus Influenzae type B
• Sub-nationally against 2 diseases - Pneumococcal Pneumonia and Japanese Encephalitis; of which Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccine is nationally expanded, while JE vaccine is provided only in endemic districts.