(Health Workers) Booklet English

Frequently Asked Questions on
Immunization
(For Health Workers & Other Front-line Functionaries)
2017
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Government of India
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Immunity and Vaccines 1
Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) and National Immunization Schedule (NIS) 7
Vaccination of Pregnant Women 13
New-born Vaccination 15
Side Effects, Adverse Events, and Contraindications 17
Vaccine Handling, Administration, and Injection Safety 21
Cold Chain 27
Bio-medical Waste Management 37
Immunization Campaigns 41
Vitamin-A 45
Program Planning and Implementation 49
Vaccination Scenarios 53
National Immunization Schedule 61

LIST OF TABLES
Table 1:Types of vaccines 3
Table 2: Vaccines and disease prevented 8
Table 3: Sequence of vaccination at 6, 10, 14 weeks and 9 months 23
Table 4: Vitamin A dosage during a measles outbreak 47
Table 5:National Immunization Schedule 61
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Vaccines protect against infection 2
Figure 2: Depiction of herd immunity 5
Figure 3: Using cold compresses for pain at injection site 18
Figure 4: Child with sites of multiple vaccines 22
Figure 5: Using AD syringe 25
Figure 6: Storage and transportation of vaccines (Cold Chain System) 27
Figure 7: ILR with vaccine arrangement (Front view) 28
Figure 8: Vaccine carrier 29
Figure 9: Ice-pack with vials kept on it 30
Figure 10: Freezing and conditioning of ice-packs 31
Figure 11: Procedure of reconstitution 32
Figure 12: VVM different stages 33
Figure 13: VVM placement on vials 33
Figure 14: Points to be checked as per Open Vial Policy 34
Figure 15: Bio-medical waste management 39
Figure 16: Vitamin-A and formulation 46
Figure 17: Four key messages 51

SECTION: 1
Immunity and Vaccines
1. What is immunity?
Ans. Immunity refers to resistance against infection caused by microorganisms (bacteria and
viruses) and their products (toxins).
2. What is immunization?
Ans. Immunization is the process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious
disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. Vaccines stimulate the body’s own
immune system to protect the person against subsequent infection or disease.1
3. Do children have natural immunity against diseases?
Ans. Babies are born with natural immunity against some diseases, which they get from their
mothers (in utero) and by breastfeeding in the early days of their life. But as they grow,
this immunity gradually decreases. Immunization further enhances their immunity and
protects them against vaccine-preventable diseases.
1
Health Topics: Immunization (WHO) at http://www.who.int/topics/immunization/en/
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FAQs on Immunization 1
4. How do vaccines protect from disease-causing organisms?
Ans. Vaccines contain either weakened or killed versions of viruses or bacteria, or an

antigenic substance prepared from the causative agent, or a synthetic substitute.
Once administered in the body by injection, mouth or by aerosol, stimulate the
immune response to produce “antibodies” targeting those infectious agents,
thereby producing protection against infections. Each vaccine provides immunity
against a particular disease; therefore, a number of vaccines are administered to
children and pregnant women to protect them from many vaccine-preventable
diseases.2
Figure 1: Vaccines protect against infection
5. What is the duration of immunity provided by immunization?
Ans. The duration of immunity varies with different diseases and different vaccines. Life-
long immunity is not always provided by either natural infection or vaccination. The
protection provided by vaccines decreases gradually over time. Therefore, booster
doses are sometimes recommended for certain vaccines, at specific age groups.
6. When does the process of child immunization start?
Ans. Immunization process starts when a child is in utero. Immunity developed from TT
vaccine given to pregnant women passes to her child and protects from neonatal
tetanus. Immunity against some infections, like measles, is transferred to child as
passive immunity and protects from infection for some period after birth. Under
National Immunization Schedule, BCG, OPV, and Hep B vaccines are given to child
immediately after birth.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Immunization Handbook for Medical Officers, 2016
2
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2 FAQs on Immunization
7. Why is timely vaccination important?
Ans. Age of administration of vaccines is decided by medical and public health experts
after careful study of disease epidemiology and protective efficacy of different
vaccines. Vaccines ensure best protection when they are given at the right time.
India’s National Immunization Schedule has been designed to protect children since
birth, and at the ages when they are vulnerable to specific vaccine-preventable
diseases.
The recommended age for vaccination by different vaccines aims to achieve the best
immune protection to cover the period in life when vulnerability to disease is highest.
When children are not vaccinated at all or get vaccinated beyond the recommended
age, they remain unprotected and may get infected from a vaccine-preventable
disease.
8. What are the various types of vaccines?
Ans. Vaccines can be categorized on the basis of their composition, which also decides its
mechanism of action once introduced into the body. Broadly, there are four types of
vaccines:3
Vaccine Type Description Examples

Contains live form of disease- causing BCG, Oral polio
agents (virus or bacteria), that have been vaccine (OPV),
Live- weakened under laboratory conditions. Measles/ Measles-
Attenuated These agents replicate in the body of Rubella (MR),
Vaccines vaccinated individual and cause a mild Rotavirus and
form of self-limiting disease, followed by Japanese encephalitis
long lasting immunity. (JE) vaccines
Contain inactivated form of disease

Pertussis,
causing agent (virus or bacteria). They
Haemophilus
Inactivated cannot replicate but induce an immune
influenza type B
(or killed) response leading to protection against
(Hib) and Inactivated
vaccines specific disease. These vaccines require
Poliovirus Vaccine
multiple doses to induce, and booster
(IPV)
doses to maintain immunity.
Contain genetically modified form of

Recombinant
disease causing agent, which produce
(or sub-unit) Hepatitis B vaccine
antigenic proteins in vaccinated individual,
vaccines
thus inducing immunity.
Contain inactivated form of toxins

Diphtheria and
Toxoid produced by disease causing agent,
Tetanus toxoid (TT)
vaccines which elicit immune response producing
vaccines
immunity against the disease.
Table 1:Types of vaccines
3
FAQs on Immunization 3 I
Why do private providers offer some vaccines that are not
9. available in Government’s programme?
Ans. Government’s immunization programme serves to a wider community, while
private providers serve only to families that approach to them for services. Universal
Immunization Programme (UIP) implemented by Ministry of Health & Family
Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India includes vaccines recommended by WHO
and National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI). Its objective is
to control transmission of diseases having public health significance that can lead to
high mortality and morbidity among the community.
Private providers, on the other hand, follow immunization schedule recommended
by Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP). It includes some vaccines that are not of
public health significance and do not pose threat to a larger community. Therefore,
vaccines provided in government’s programme are fewer as compared to those
provided by private providers.
Is there any difference in the vaccine quality provided by

10. private practitioners and those provided at the government
health facilities?
Ans. Both government and private sectors have same regulatory mechanisms and all
vaccines are procured from government approved manufacturers. All vaccines are
approved by Central Drugs and Standards Control Organization (CDSCO) which
is the National Regulatory Authority (NRA). Drug Controller General of India (DCGI)
heads the CDSCO and grants permission to conduct clinical trials; registers and
controls the quality of vaccines.4
Which diseases have been successfully eliminated/ eradicated

11. by use of vaccines in routine immunization?
Ans. Use of vaccines in India’s Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) has resulted
in successful eradication/elimination of three diseases from the country. These are
smallpox (1977), poliomyelitis (2014) and maternal and neonatal tetanus (2015).
Is it true that individual vaccination also ensures protection of

12. community at large? What is herd immunity?
Ans. Yes. It is true that individual vaccination against a disease-causing pathogen can
protect even those individuals in a community who have not been vaccinated
against that disease or pathogen. A population with a high number of members with
immunity to a particular disease or pathogen may give protection from that infection
to the small number of its non-immune members. This phenomenon is known as
“herd immunity” or “community immunity” or “population immunity”. This is only
achieved when a very high proportion of community members are vaccinated, so
it is difficult for the disease-causing organism to spread to unprotected persons
because there are few of those people left.
4
National Vaccine Policy, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, April 2011
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It is only true for diseases where there is a person to person transmission. Herd
immunity makes it difficult for disease-causing organism to spread through cycle of
infection, multiplication and circulation among the vulnerable population.
not immunized but not immunized, sick, immunized and

still healthy and contagious healthy
No one is immunized
Contagious disease
spreads through the
population
Some of the
population gets
immunized
Contagious disease
spreads through
some of the
population
Most of the population

gets immunized
Spread of contagious
disease is contained
Figure 2: Depiction of herd immunity
What is the reason that some children suffer from vaccine

13. preventable disease though they have been vaccinated against
that disease?
Ans. Vaccines have been used for decades and have proven to be effective. Like any other
medicine, no vaccine is 100% efficacious. The immunity produced by vaccines varies
from child to child. There may be children who do not develop sufficient protective
immunity against a disease-causing pathogen due to malnutrition, repeated
episodes of diarrhoea leading to diminished immunity or individual specific immune
response to a vaccine.
Because of these reasons, some children suffer from vaccine-preventable disease
despite receiving vaccination against it. However, in such cases the disease is of less
severity than in children who have never been vaccinated.
14. What are vaccine hesitancy and vaccine confidence?
Ans. Vaccine hesitancy is the behaviour of parents, caregivers, or the community, who
hesitate to get their children vaccinated in spite of immunization services being
available and accessible. Inadequate immunization services due to non-availability
of vaccines, absenteeism of vaccinators and long distances to vaccination centres
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contribute to this hesitancy. Other reasons for vaccine hesitancy are low perception
of the benefits of vaccines, loss of wages, social beliefs, fear of AEFIs, inadequate
IPC skills of health workers, geographical barriers.
Vaccine confidence is when parents, caregivers or the community understand
the value of vaccination and voluntarily demand vaccination services as a right,
whether these vaccinations are part of the RI schedule for their children or part of
adult vaccinations such as TT for pregnant women. Vaccine confidence comes from
adequate awareness about the benefits of vaccines, both to the individual and to
the community, and the trust in the immunization service delivery system to be able
to provide quality vaccination.5
Why have certain vaccines been introduced in some states

15. only?
Ans. Vaccines are introduced in National Immunization Schedule for diseases that lead
to high mortality and morbidity among children. Certain vaccines are introduced in
selected states due to the following reasons;
à Whenever new vaccines are introduced in UIP, then initially, they are rolled out
in some states (phased-wise introduction) and gradually expanded across all
states and districts of the country. For example, Rotavirus Vaccine and PCV.
à Secondly, diseases, like Japanese Encephalitis, are endemic in certain districts
and states only (i.e. restricted to a certain place due to environmental
conditions). For such diseases, vaccines are introduced only in those areas
which are affected by them.
à There are initiatives by the state government to introduce additional vaccines
in their routine immunization, which are not part of the National Immunization
Schedule.
5
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SECTION: 2
Universal Immunization Programme
(UIP) and National Immunization
Schedule (NIS)
What is the National Immunization Schedule under Universal

16. Immunization Programme?
Ans. National Immunization Schedule is a vaccination plan that all children and pregnant
women should follow and complete to ensure protection against vaccine-preventable
diseases.
This schedule includes:
à Name of vaccine
à Recommended age/s of administration
à Total doses required
à Route and site of administration
à Volumes of doses
Which vaccines are currently given to a child in India’s Universal

17. Immunization Programme and against which diseases these
vaccines prevent?
Ans. Under India’s Universal Immunization Programme 12 different vaccines are provided to
beneficiaries free of cost, through government health system. These are – BCG, OPV,
Hepatitis B, Pentavalent, Rotavirus, PCV, IPV, Measles/MR, JE, DPT, and TT.
Out of these, Rotavirus Vaccine, PCV and MR are being introduced in a phased-wise
manner across different states. JE vaccine is given only in the districts where Japanese
Encephalitis is endemic. The vaccines administered in UIP and the diseases prevented by
them are as follows;
Vaccine Disease Prevented
BCG Childhood Tuberculosis (or Primary Complex)
OPV Poliomyelitis
Hepatitis B Hepatitis B (affecting liver)
Diphtheria (Gal Ghotu), Pertussis (Whooping Cough, Kaali Khansi/ Kukkar Khansi), Tetanus
Penta
(Dhanustambh), Hib infection (causing pneumonia and meningitis), and Hepatitis B
RVV* Rotavirus diarrhoea
IPV Poliomyelitis
Measles Measles (Khasra or Govar)
MR* Measles and Rubella
Japanese Encephalitis or Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES)

JE* or Brain Fever (Dimagi Bukhar)
DPT Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus
TT Tetanus (in new-born and pregnant women)
PCV* Pneumococcal Pneumonia

*Wherever applicable
Table 2: Vaccines and disease prevented
18. What is the meaning of a fully immunized child?
Ans. A fully immunized child is one who has received all vaccines recommended in the
National Immunization Schedule in required doses, before completing one year of
age.
For the purpose of monitoring and evaluating the programme, a child below 1 year
of age who has received one dose of BCG, Measles/MR along with 3 doses of OPV,
Pentavalent Vaccine and two doses of IPV is said to be fully immunized. However, for
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the purpose of the programme and to ensure that the child is completely protected,
all other vaccines applicable to a child below one year of age should be provided
as per the immunization schedule, like PCV (3 doses), RVV (3 doses), JE (1 dose),
wherever applicable.
19. What is the meaning of a completely immunized child?
Ans. A child who has received all vaccines recommended for the first and second year in
the National Immunization Schedule is said to be completely immunized.
à First year: One dose of BCG, Measles/MR* and JE vaccines*, 3 doses of OPV,
Pentavalent vaccine, Rotavirus vaccine* and PCV*, and 2 doses of IPV
à Second year: Second dose of Measles/ MR* and JE vaccines*, and one booster
dose of OPV and DPT
20. What are left outs and drop outs?
Ans. From a service delivery perspective:

à Left outs are those children who have never been vaccinated or reached (thus
remaining unimmunized);
à Drop outs are those children who started vaccination but did not complete the
schedule (thus remaining partially immunized).
From behavioural perspective, a large percentage of dropouts is a serious problem
because it reflects the poor perception of the parents/caregivers about the benefits
of vaccination or of the immunization service delivery system, or both, combined
with other barriers that forces them to place immunization on a low priority.6
21. Which vaccines have been introduced in recent years?
Ans. Vaccines introduced in Universal Immunization Programme during last few years are
JE (2006), Hepatitis B (2007), Pentavalent (2011), IPV (2015) and Rotavirus Vaccine
(2016). Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) and Measles-Rubella (MR) are the
latest additions rolled out under UIP (2017).
If a child is brought late for a subsequent dose of multi-dose

vaccines (for example, after more than the recommended one
22. month), should the health worker restart the series from the
first dose?
Ans. No. There is no need to restart the series or schedule again in case a child has received
some doses of scheduled vaccines but is brought late for the subsequent doses. If
the child is brought late, you should give the next dose of the vaccine and motivate
the parents to bring the child for the remaining doses at the recommended interval
as per the immunization schedule.
6
23. What are the upper age limits for various vaccines?
Ans. According to National Immunization Schedule some vaccines have an upper age
limit for administration and these vaccines should not be administered once that
age limit is crossed.
The vaccines should be given till the following ages as per UIP guidelines:
à BCG: up to one year of age
à OPV: up to five years (OPV zero dose till 15 days of birth)
à Measles/MR: up to five years (in MR campaigns, vaccine is given to 9 months to
15 years age group)
à DPT: up to 7 years
à JE: up to 15 years
Only the above-mentioned vaccines have upper age limits. Efforts should be made
to ensure that all vaccines are given at the recommended ages, or closer to it.
For pentavalent, IPV, PCV and Rotavirus vaccines, if at least one dose is given before
one year of age, then remaining doses can be administered and schedule must be
completed irrespective of the age of child. If the first dose is not administered before
one year of age, then these vaccines cannot be administered to the child under UIP.
Why are some vaccines not administered after a reaching a

24. certain age?
Ans. Age of administration for different vaccines has been recommended in National
Immunization Schedule taking into consideration maximum benefit in terms of
immunity generation, reduction in disease incidence, and mortality and morbidity.
The schedule has been designed to ensure protection against vaccine preventable
diseases to children at ages when they are most vulnerable.
After attaining a certain age, children acquire natural immunity to some infections
(like childhood tuberculosis), or cross vulnerable age period when a vaccine-
preventable disease can be life threatening.
Why are booster doses required after receiving initial doses of

25. some vaccines?
Ans. Immunity or protective effect generated by some vaccines gradually diminishes
over time and increases vulnerability to target infections. For such vaccines,
booster doses are administered after receiving initial doses as it boosts immunity
and enhances protection level against specific vaccine-preventable disease. For
example: DPT, OPV and PCV.
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If a child has suffered from a vaccine-preventable disease in the
26. past, will s/he still require vaccination against that disease?
Ans. Yes. Most vaccine-preventable diseases (for example, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Rotavirus
diarrhoea, Hib pneumonia and JE) after an episode of full-blown infection and disease
do not confer long-term immunity. Therefore, in these cases a child will still require
all recommended doses of the vaccine as per the national immunization schedule.
Some vaccine-preventable diseases are caused by different strains of same
pathogenic organism. In these cases, infection by one strain does not confer immunity
against other strains and will require vaccination to ensure full protection. Example:
Bivalent OPV as currently given in UIP provides protection against poliovirus types
1 and 3. Therefore, administration of this vaccine will still be required for a child who
got infected by the type 1 poliovirus in past, as s/he is vulnerable for infection from
type 3 poliovirus.
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SECTION: 3
Vaccination of Pregnant Women
What vaccines are recommended for pregnant women in National

27. Immunization Schedule?
Ans. In National Immunization Schedule, two doses of Tetanus Toxoid (TT) vaccine are
recommended for all pregnant women. First dose is given as soon as the pregnancy is
confirmed, and the second dose 4 weeks after the first dose.
However, if any pregnant woman has not received TT vaccination during her pregnancy,
she should be given one dose of TT at the time of labour.
28. Why do pregnant women require vaccination against Tetanus?
Ans. Tetanus, also known as Lockjaw, is a life-threatening disease causing seizures and severe
muscle spasms, often leading to death by respiratory failure. In new-borns, disease
present as tightly closed mouth due to spasm of jaw muscles. As a result, they cannot
take feeds, and in the majority of cases die.
Tetanus Toxoid (TT) vaccine is given to all pregnant women to protect them and their new-
born babies from Tetanus. Due to sustained efforts over years, India has been successful
in eliminating Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus, and to sustain this status administration of
TT vaccine to all pregnant women need to be ensured.
29. Is it safe to give TT doses in all pregnancies?
Ans. Yes. Recommended doses of TT vaccine should be given to a woman every time she gets
pregnant. Repeat doses only enhance immunity and do not cause any harm to the woman
or her child.
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SECTION: 4
New-born Vaccination
30. What vaccines should be given to a new-born?

Ans. According to National Immunization Schedule, one dose each of three vaccines, OPV,
BCG and Hepatitis B, should be given to new-borns irrespective of the place of delivery.
This is recommended for all institutional and non-institutional deliveries, in both public
and private sectors.
31. Is there any time limit for these vaccines recommended for new-
borns?
Ans. Yes. Time limit for vaccines recommended for new-borns is as follows:
à Hepatitis B (known as “birth dose”): should be given within 24 hours of birth to
protect the new-born from possible Hepatitis B infection that gets transferred from
mother during delivery. If birth dose of Hepatitis B vaccine is given beyond 24 hours,
then it will not provide this protection. However, maximum protection against
Hepatitis B transmission is provided if the vaccine is given within 12 hours of birth.7
à OPV (known as “zero dose”): should be given within 15 days of birth, day of birth
taken as day zero.
à BCG: should be given as early as possible after birth to provide maximum protection
from childhood tuberculosis infection. BCG vaccine should not be given to the child
beyond one year of age.
Why is the dose of polio vaccine that is given within 15 days of birth
32. called the “zero dose”?
Ans. The dose of OPV given at birth is called the “zero dose” because:
à It is an “extra” dose that adds to the protection of the individual and the community
à It is given before the scheduled three primary doses
7
Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report, Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Part 1: Immunization of
Infants, Children, and Adolescents, December 23, 2005/54 (RR16); 1-23
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SECTION: 5
Side Effects, Adverse Events,
and Contraindications
33. What are the side effects of vaccination?

Ans. All vaccines induce immunity by causing the recipient’s immune system to react to the
vaccine. Therefore, local reactions, fever and systemic symptoms can result as part of
the immune response. In addition, some of the vaccine’s components (e.g. aluminium
adjuvant, stabilizers or preservatives) can also lead to reactions.8
If fever does not come after giving injectable vaccine, does this
34. mean that vaccine has not been effective and needs to be re-
administered? Is it necessary to get a fever after vaccination?
Ans. No. Though mild fever comes in majority of children who receive injectable vaccines, there
are few children in which the immune response elicited by vaccine does not cause rise in
body’s temperature. This is normal in some children, and there is no need to re-administer
vaccine if fever does not come after vaccination.
Why is there pain and swelling at the injection site? How it can be
35. managed?
Ans. In case of injectable vaccines (like Hepatitis B, pentavalent and IPV), infants may have
redness, mild pain, and swelling at the injection site. This is mainly due to rupture of some
muscle fibres by the needle getting injected into the muscle tissue. In addition, some of
the vaccine’s components (e.g. aluminium adjuvant, stabilizers or preservatives) can lead
to local inflammatory reactions. These symptoms generally appear on the day after the
injection is given and last from 1 to 3 days.
Cold compresses can be used to control swelling and redness. You should recommend
Paracetamol (syrup or tablet, in divided doses) for providing symptomatic relief to child.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Immunization Handbook for Medical Officers 2016
8
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1 Soak a clean cloth in cold water
and squeeze the excess water
Place the cloth on injection site

where there is pain and swelling 2
Figure 3: Using cold compresses for pain at injection site
Can a sick child be vaccinated? Is cough, cold and mild fever

36. contra-indications for immunization?
Ans. Yes. A sick child suffering from mild illness can be safely vaccinated. Symptoms
of mild illness (like cough, cold, mild fever or mild diarrhoea) are not contra-
indications to vaccination. However, a child with moderate to severe illness requiring
hospitalization (high grade fever, severe diarrhoea, etc.), should not be vaccinated
during the acute phase.
Can vaccines, especially oral vaccines, be administered to a

37. child with diarrhoea and vomiting?
Ans. Oral vaccines can be given to a child with mild diarrhoea. However, if a child has
severe diarrhoea requiring hospitalization, oral vaccines should be given only after
diarrhoea is controlled. Oral vaccines should not be given to child who is vomiting
recurrently, until vomiting is controlled.
What is the meaning of Adverse Events Following Immunization

38. (AEFI)?
Ans. Adverse events are any untoward medical occurrence which follows immunization
and which does not necessarily have a causal relationship with the usage of the
vaccine. The reported events may be a result of vaccine or immunization process,
or they may be coincidental events that are not due to vaccine or immunization
process but simply something that occurred soon after immunization.
Though, the occurrence is not due to a particular vaccine, but unless there is a
thorough investigation to determine the cause, such occurrences are assumed to
be due to vaccines and immunization. All cases of serious/severe AEFI should be
reported and investigated as per guidelines.
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Are there any medical conditions for which specific vaccines
39. should not be given?
Ans. There are a few medical conditions for which vaccines should be delayed or should
not be given. These are as follows:
à A child who has had a severe (allergic) reaction to earlier dose of any vaccine
should not be given another dose of the same vaccine. This is an absolute
contra-indication applicable for all vaccines.
à If a child has allergy to one conjugate vaccine (like DPT), any other conjugated
vaccine (like PCV) should not be given (or may be given under medical
observations) to the child.
à IPV should not be given to children allergic to streptomycin, neomycin or
polymyxin B.
à Vaccination should be given only after medical advice if a child is allergic to egg
proteins.
à Rotavirus vaccine should not be given to children who have history of
intussusception, or abdominal surgery, or intestinal malformation.
à Live vaccines should not be given to immune-compromised children (e.g. HIV,
Leukaemia), and those taking steroid therapy or immune-suppressant drugs.
à Vaccines should not be given to hospitalized or unconscious child, or those
having convulsions.
à Immunization should also be withheld during moderate to severe acute illness,
since vaccines may not elicit immune response in such conditions.
Can a child delivered by surgery (Caesarean section) or a child

40. who has delivered prematurely also receive vaccination?
Ans. Yes. Vaccination should be provided to all children. It does not matter if:
à They are delivered by surgery or by normal delivery
à They are delivered at a private or government health facility or at home
à They are delivered before completing 9 months of gestation period (premature)
à Mother is suffering from any medical condition
à Has a low birth weight
The immunization schedule should start at birth irrespective of the age of gestation
and weight of the child.
41. What precautions should be taken after vaccination?

Ans. As a health worker, you should ensure that the parents/caretakers wait for 30
minutes at the health facility or the session site after vaccination. This is required to
ensure that immediate care can be sought if there is any side effect or adverse event.
Breastfeeding can be done after vaccination, even after giving oral vaccines. There is
no effect of breast milk on efficacy of the vaccines.
You should ensure that parents/caretakers do not apply any medicines or herbs
at the injection site. In case of redness or swelling at the injection site, cold water
compresses (i.e. a pad of clean cloth dipped into cold water) can be used. Please
recommend Paracetamol for providing symptomatic relief to the child.
Why should the parents be asked to wait for some time after
42. vaccination?
Ans. In rare cases, vaccines can lead to an allergic reaction or any other kind of adverse
event. These events require early diagnosis and management. Therefore, it is
advised that parents/caretakers are asked to stay at the session site for at least 30
minutes after receiving vaccination.
43. Does the child’s leg become weak due to vaccination?

Ans. No. The child’s leg does not become weak due to vaccination. However, in some
cases child may avoid leg movement to avoid pain at the injection site. This can be
managed by cold compresses at the injection site, or by giving paracetamol tablet
or syrup in recommended dose.
44. Can any vaccine, like OPV, lead to infertility or impotency?

Ans. No. All vaccines used in Universal Immunization Programme are pre-tested and
recommended by WHO. All these vaccines are highly safe and effective, and are
being used in many other countries besides India. No vaccine can lead to infertility
or impotency, and this, like many other myths related to vaccines, is baseless and
wrong.
45. Can Measles/MR vaccine lead to autism in children?

Ans. There is strong scientific evidence that measles/MR vaccination is not linked to
autism, or any other conditions like inflammatory bowel disease or permanent
neurological sequelae, which have been wrongly associated with this vaccine.9
46. Can vaccines cause allergy?

Ans. Vaccines are generally safe. However, some children may be allergic to certain
vaccines or a component of vaccine (like antibiotic or preservative), and
administration of vaccine in such children can result in allergic reaction, like itching,
or appearance of red spots on the body, soon after immunization. These cases need
to be managed immediately and in some cases may also require referral.
After an allergic reaction, DO NOT repeat or provide subsequent doses of the same
vaccine without consultation and advice of medical officer.
9
Measles vaccines: WHO Position Paper, April 2017
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SECTION: 6
Vaccine Handling, Administration,
and Injection Safety
Can more than one vaccine be administered to a child at the

47. same time?
Ans. Yes. More than one vaccine can be administered to a child at the same time. Different
vaccines have different mechanism of generating immune responses in the body.
Inactivated vaccines do not interfere with the effect of any other inactivated, live, or
toxoid vaccines. Therefore, it is completely safe to administer more than one vaccine
to a child at the same time. Doing this has no effect on efficacy of individual vaccines.
Following precautions must be taken when more than one vaccine is to be
administered to a child:
à Two or more vaccines should not be mixed in the same syringe.
à If two injectable vaccines are given on the same site, they should be given 2.5
cm (1 inch) apart.
Is there any benefit administering more than one vaccine at

48. the same time?
Ans. From public health perspective, administration of more than one vaccine as per
the schedule at the same time reduces the number of visits to the health facilities,
thereby reducing drop outs. Also, giving multiple vaccinations during the same visit
does not result in a higher incidence of adverse events.
What should be the interval between administrations of two
49. doses of same vaccine as per the National Immunization
Schedule?
Ans. There should be minimum 4 weeks of interval between administration of two
doses of same multi-dose vaccine (like, Pentavalent and Rotavirus vaccines), except
for PCV which is 2 months and JE vaccine which is 3 months. For booster doses, the
recommended interval can be 6 months to more than one year after the primary doses.
Decreasing the interval between two doses of multi-dose vaccine may interfere with
the antibody response and protection. Longer than normal recommended intervals
between two subsequent doses of multi-dose vaccines normally does not impair the
immunologic response. Therefore, interruption in the recommended schedule does
not require a re-start from beginning.
50. Why are vaccines in NIS administered at specific sites only?
Ans. Each vaccine is normally administered at the same, specific site on the body to
maintain uniformity and to help determine vaccination history by asking from
beneficiary or caretaker (in case immunization card is not available or lost). Specific
sites of administration also help parents and caretakers recall previous vaccinations
during the follow-up visits and household surveys.
Oral Administration
Oral Polio Rotavirus Vitamin
Vaccine Vaccine* A
Upper Arm-Right Upper Arm-Left

IPV Measles/MR* BCG JE*
(Intra-dermal) (Sub-cutaneous) (Intra-dermal) (Sub-cutaneous)
Antero-lateral side of mid-thigh-Right Antero-lateral side of mid-thigh-Left

(Intra-muscular) (Intra-muscular)
HepB
PCV* Birth Dose Penta DPT Booster
Figure 4: Child with sites of multiple vaccines *Wherever applicable
Why are some vaccines now being administered in thigh

51. instead of buttocks?
Ans. Mid-thigh is the correct site for administering injectable vaccines in young children,
especially up to five years of age. This site is recommended under UIP and therefore
should be followed uniformly.
There are three reasons for administering some injectable vaccines in mid-thigh
(anterolateral aspect). These are:
à Sciatic nerve, a major nerve for lower legs, passes through the buttocks (gluteal
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region). This nerve may get accidentally damaged in case of injection, leading
to weakness or paralysis of lower limb.
à There is lot of fat in the buttocks. Vaccine gets deposited in this fat and either
does not elicit or elicits a delayed or partial immune response.
à Anterolateral aspect (front and outer part) of mid-thigh is preferred site for
giving injection in children as it provides the largest muscle mass, leading to
quick absorption of vaccine into the blood capillaries.
Sometimes the same vaccine is of different colour in different

52. vials. Does this have any effect on its efficacy?
Ans. No. All vaccines supplied for immunization programme undergo strict quality checks.
There can be instances that colour of vaccine is slightly different in different vials,
but this in no way affects the efficacy of vaccine.
What should be done if child spits out or vomits immediately

53. after taking vaccine orally?
Ans. If a child vomits immediately after taking vaccine orally, like OPV and rotavirus
vaccines, then the vaccine dose should be given again. However, a repeat dose
should be given after ensuring that child does not vomit it out again.
During 6th, 10th, 14th weeks and 9 months when more than
54. one vaccine is to be administered on the same day, is there a
definite sequence in which vaccines need to be given?
Ans. During 6th, 10th, 14th weeks and 9 months, when multiple vaccines are to be
administered, it is preferable for health workers/ vaccinators to follow the sequence
as given below, for the sake of programmatic consistency and uniformity;
6 Weeks 10 Weeks 14 Weeks 9 Months
1 1 1 1
OPV OPV OPV Vit A
2 2 2 2 Measles
RVV* RVV* RVV*
/MR*
3 3 3 3
fIPV Penta fIPV PCV-B*
4 4 4
PCV* PCV* JE*
5 5
Penta Penta
Table 3: Sequence of vaccination at 6, 10, 14 weeks and 9 months
What precautions should be taken at time of opening a vaccine
55. vial?
Ans. Before opening vaccine vial, check the following;
à Label for type of vaccine, the label must be readable
à Expiry date
à Status of VVM
à Cap or bottle is not cracked
à The vaccine is not visibly frozen, in case the vaccine is freeze-sensitive
Note: Just after opening the vial (and reconstituting it, when applicable), health
worker/vaccinator should mention the date and time of opening on the vial.
What specific precautions should be taken during vaccine

56. administration?
Ans. There are few specific precautions that should be taken by you. These are:
à Check the label for expiry date and the VVM label of the vaccine vials and
diluents before use.
à Always use a new AD syringe for administering injectable vaccine.
à Always use a new syringe for reconstituting the vaccine (BCG, Measles/MR and
JE vaccines).
à Ensure that the vaccine and diluents are of the same temperature and supplied
by the same manufacturer (bundled) before reconstituting.
à Check expiry date and packaging of AD syringe before opening it.
à Never mix two or more injectable vaccines in the same syringe.
à Never use spirit, soap or liquid antibiotic to clean injection site. Water swab is
adequate.
à Never rub or touch injection site after vaccine administration.
57. What are AD syringes?
Ans. AD or Auto Disabled syringes are specialized plastic syringes introduced in UIP for
administering injectable vaccines. Once used, these syringes get locked, as the
plunger cannot be withdrawn to refill the syringe with vaccine again. This avoids
reuse or misuse of used syringes, and prevents transmission of infections from one
child or a pregnant woman to another.
Care should be taken that under no condition different vaccines are withdrawn
or mixed in the same syringe. You must use a new AD syringe for every vaccine
administered to a child. The syringe should be opened from the plunger-end and
only when vaccine is to be administered.
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Hub
Needle Cap
Needle Syringe Plunger
After withdrawing
Tear the package Remove the needle cap Invert the vial and the vaccine, tap the barrel
from the plunger by holding the sy- insert the needle to bring the bubbles
side ringe(not plunger) through the septum towards the tip
Plunger
DO NOT touch the needle DO NOT recap the needle DO NOT bend the needle
Figure 5: Using AD syringe
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SECTION: 7
Cold Chain
58. What is “Cold Chain” for vaccines?

Ans. Cold chain is a system for storing and transporting vaccines at recommended temperatures
from the point of manufacture till the point of use (administration to beneficiary). The
system comprises of walk-in freezers, walk-in coolers, deep freezers, ice-lined refrigerators
installed at different levels for the storage of vaccines, and refrigerated vaccine vans/
insulated vaccine vans, vaccine carriers and insulated cold boxes for transportation. Entire
system is closely monitored to ensure delivery of potent and effective vaccines to the
beneficiary.
Primary Store
District Vaccine Store Immunization
(GMSD &/ State)
WIC & WIF
ILR & DF Session Site
Insulated Van Insulated Van Insulated Van Vaccine Carrier
Vaccine Mother and

Manufacturer Child
State Store Primary Health Centre

WIC & WIF ILR
Figure 6: Storage and transportation of vaccines (Cold Chain System)
What is the recommended temperature for storage of vaccines
59. at the health facilities and immunization session sites?
Ans. At health facilities and immunization session sites, all vaccines should always be
stored at the recommended temperature between +2OC to +8OC.
Care should be taken to avoid keeping vaccines in conditions where the temperature
is much lower (for example, freezers that are used for preparing ice), or where
temperature is higher (for example, in direct sunlight). If a vaccine is not stored or
transported at recommended temperature, there may be decline in potency and
efficacy of the vaccine.
What should be the order from bottom to top for storing

60. vaccines inside ice lined refrigerator?
Ans. The order of different vaccines from bottom to top inside an ice lined refrigerator
should be;
OPV (bottom most), Measles/MR, BCG, JE, Rotavirus, TT, DPT, IPV, Pentavalent,
PCV, Hepatitis B, followed by diluents (top most).
To be used
Opened vials of Hep. B, DPT, TT,
Pentavalent, OPV, IPV and PCV provided;
1. VVM is intact and in usable stage

2. Date and time of opening is mentioned
on the vial
3. Vial is within 28 days of opening
4. Date of expiry has not reached/crossed
5. The vaccine vial septum is not contaminated
Diluents Diluents Diluents Diluents

Hep B Hep B Hep B Hep B
Pentavalent Pentavalent PCV PCV Not to be used
DPT DPT IPV IPV
TT TT TT TT 1. Opened vials of BCG, Measles/MR, JE and RVV
Rota Rota Rota Rota
BCG BCG JE
2. All empty vaccine vials
JE
Measles/MR Measles/MR Measles/MR Measles/MR 3. VVM is not in usable stage
OPV OPV OPV OPV
4. Date and time of opening is not mentioned
5. 28 days of opening of vial have passed
* These vials should be discarded after 48 hours or before the

next session, whichever is earlier as per the CPCB guidelines.
Figure 7: ILR with vaccine arrangement (Front view)
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61. What is a vaccine carrier?
Ans. Vaccine carrier is an insulated box

used for transporting limited number
of vaccine vials and diluents from cold
chain point to outreach session sites,
for storing vials at the session site,
and to return back unused, partially
used and completely used vials back to
cold chain point on the same day. It is
packed with four conditioned ice packs
and can maintain storage temperature
of +2OC to +8OC for 12 hours, if not
opened frequently. Vaccine carriers
are used globally for the purpose of
transporting vaccines to the point of use.
Note: Droppers and Syringes should
not be kept in the vaccine carrier Figure 8: Vaccine carrier
How should you ensure that cold chain is maintained at the

62. outreach immunization session sites?
Ans. At outreach immunization session sites (villages and mohallas); a health worker is
responsible for maintaining appropriate cold chain for vaccines.
You should ensure that once the vaccines are transported to the session sites, the
vaccine carrier is placed in shade and not in direct exposure to sunlight. During the
session, avoid opening vaccine carrier frequently as this breaks the cold chain for
vials stored inside. To address this, take out one conditioned ice pack outside the
vaccine carrier and place non freeze-sensitive, opened vaccine vials on it, to maintain
the recommended temperature.
During an immunization session, can vaccine vials be placed on

63. ice pack taken out from vaccine carrier?
Ans. As per guidelines, during an immunization session, take out one ice pack from
vaccine carrier and place non freeze-sensitive, opened vaccine vials on it to maintain
cold chain. This helps ensure that vaccine carrier is not opened again and again.
The vaccine vials that should be placed on ice pack are – BCG, Measles, OPV,
Rotavirus and JE. BCG and Measles vials are placed in the pits provided on ice packs,
while OPV, Rotavirus and JE are placed on the surface of ice pack.
The freeze-sensitive vaccine vials should NEVER be placed on ice pack. IPV, TT, DPT,
PCV and Pentavalent vaccine vials should never be kept on the ice-pack.
TT
Measles/MR BCG IPV DPT Penta-
JE RVV OPV valent
PCV
Figure 9: Ice-pack with vials kept on it
What should be done if frozen vaccine vials are found at the

64. health facility or session site?
Ans. Freeze sensitive vaccines (Hepatitis B, Pentavalent, IPV, DPT, TT and PCV); lose
their potency if they freeze during storage or transportation. Therefore, if any of
these vaccine vials are found to be visibly frozen, they should be discarded as per the
guidelines.
A “shake test” should be performed at the health facility for any suspected frozen
vaccine vial i.e. if temperature falls below 0°C or there are other frozen vials in the
same box or there is any suspicious vial damaged due to freezing.
Vaccines, like OPV and Rotavirus vaccines do not lose their potency and efficacy on
freezing, and these vaccines can be used again once they liquefy.
What else can be stored inside vaccine carrier during

65. transportation and at session sites?
Ans. Vaccine carrier should only be used for transporting vaccines and diluents provided
under UIP to session sites. It should have four conditioned ice packs to ensure
appropriate temperature inside carrier. No other vaccine (non UIP), drug, food, or
item should be kept inside vaccine carrier. State-specific vaccines, if are part of the
Routine Immunization may be transported in the same vaccine carrier.
The droppers used for administration of oral vaccines and syringes should NOT be
transported inside vaccine carrier as cold temperatures can cause them to crack.
Note: Hard frozen ice-packs should be used in vaccine carrier in case of Polio
SIAs.
I
Maintain tempertaure between
-15o C to -250C
Keep ice packs in criss-cross manner

Do not keep vaccines, diluents, medicines or
eatable items in the DF
Do not freeze more than 25-30 ice-packs in
small DF and 50-60 ice-packs in large DF
Wait for sweating to appear on the

ice-packs (water droplets)
Shake the ice-packs

Place ice-packs on the table to hear the crackling sound
Wipe conditioned
ice-packs
Remove ice-packs dry and put them in
from DF the vaccine carrier
CONDITIONING OF
ICE-PACKS
Figure 10: Freezing and conditioning of ice-packs
66. What are vaccine diluents?

Ans. A vaccine diluent is the liquid which is used to reconstitute a lyophilized (freeze-
dried) vaccine (BCG, Measles/MR and JE). A vaccine diluent may be sensitive to heat
or freezing, and may require transportation and storage in the cold chain.
Are diluents also to be stored in cold chain at recommended

67. storage temperature?
Ans. Yes. Diluents also should be stored in the ILR at the last cold chain point. If the ILR
has space constraints then the diluents may be stored outside ILR, but it must be
ensured that they are kept in ILR at least 24 hours before use or issuing to sessions to
ensure that vaccines and diluents are at same temperature (i.e. +2° to +8°C) during
reconstitution. When mixed, the diluent and vaccine should be approximately at
the same temperature; otherwise, it can lead to thermal shock that is, the death of
some or all the essential live organisms in the vaccine.
The glass of diluent ampoules is too fragile and it should be stored in top of the ILR
(above all the vaccines) to prevent cracking. Diluents should be transported along
with the vaccines, in the vaccine carrier to the session sites.
68. What precautions should be taken regarding use of diluents?
Ans. à ONLY the diluents supplied by the same manufacturer (bundled) along with
vaccine are to be used as these are specifically designed for the needs of that
vaccine, with respect to volume, pH level and chemical properties. No other
diluents should be used even if they are chemically same.
à Diluents should be checked for expiry date, batch numbers and breakage
(cracks and leaks). Care should be taken to ensure that freeze dried vaccine
(BCG, Measles/ MR and JE) are issued with corresponding diluents.
à Only the recommended volume of diluent must be used to reconstitute the
vaccine.
“Bundling” ensures that vaccines are always supplied with diluents, AD syringes and
reconstitution syringes, in corresponding quantities, at each level of the supply chain.
Break the diluent at the Draw the diluent

point of filing
2)
3)
1)
4)
File the neck of the 5)

diluent ampoule Reconstitute
the vaccine
6)
Mention date and time
of opening the vial
(Use within 4 hours of opening)
Shake the vial

Figure 11: Procedure of reconstitution
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69. How is a VVM interpreted?
Ans. In VVM, the inner square (placed inside outer circle) changes colour gradually when
exposed to high temperature. At the production facility, this square is white against
the blue background of outer circle. As vial is exposed to heat at different points of
time, the inner square begins to darken, and finally gets darker than colour of outer
circle.
If the square is visible and lighter in colour, the vaccine is safe to use, though the
vaccine in which the VVM is beginning to get dark should be used on priority.
However, if the square is not visible or is darker in colour, the vaccine is NOT safe and
should be discarded.
Usable Vaccine Non Usable Vaccine
If the square is visible and lighter in colour, the If the square is not visible or darker in colour, the
vaccine is safe to use. vaccine is NOT safe to use.
Figure 12: VVM different stages

In all vaccines, VVM is present on the label;
but in freeze-dried vaccines (viz. BCG,
Measles, and JE) and Rotavirus Vaccine Vial,
VVM is present on the cap. The reason for
putting VVM on cap is that once these vials
are opened for reconstitution, they should be
used within 4 hours. For such vaccines, time
On all freeze-dried vaccines (BCG, On all other vaccines vial VVM
after reconstitution is more important for Measles/MR, JE) and RVV vial VVM is present on the label
is present on the cap OPEN VIAL POLICY IS
ensuring efficacy and safety, and therefore OPEN VIAL POLICY IS NOT APPLICABLE!
APPLICABLE!
should be discarded after 4 hours irrespective
of their VVM status. Figure 13: VVM placement on vials
Note: On all the vaccines, where the VVM is present on the label of the vial, an
“Open Vial Policy” is applicable on them. However, in vaccines where the VVM is
present on the cap of the vial, for e.g. BCG, Measles/ MR, JE, Rotavirus vaccine
vials, the “Open Vial Policy” is not applicable, and should be used within 4 hours of
opening the vial.
70. What is “Open Vial Policy”?
Ans. To address the avoidable wastage and ensure optimal utilization of life-saving
vaccines, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India, has adopted a Multi-
Dose Open Vial Policy (OVP). The policy underlines guidelines for the reuse and
storage of open vaccine vials of specific types that contain a few doses at the end of
a session, provided certain criteria are fulfilled.
Implementation of Open Vial Policy allows reuse of partially used multi dose vials of
applicable vaccines under UIP in subsequent session (both fixed and outreach) up to
four weeks (28 days) provided;
à Expiry date has not passed
à Vaccines are stored under appropriate cold chain conditions both during
transportation and storage
à Vaccine vial septum has not been submerged in water or contaminated in any
way
à Aseptic technique has been used to withdraw vaccine doses
à VVM has not reached/crossed the discard point
Readable and intact label

Usable VVM
The vaccine is not

Expiry date has not passed visibly frozen (for
freeze-sensitive
vaccines)
If the vial is already open, also check the following;
Septum is Date and time is

not leaking mentioned (Discard after
28 days of opening)
Figure 14: Points to be checked as per Open Vial Policy
71. Which are the vaccines on which “Open Vial Policy” applies?
Ans. Open Vial Policy is applicable on the open multi-dose vials of Hep B, OPV, IPV, PCV,
DPT, TT and Pentavalent vaccine.
The policy DOES NOT apply to freeze dried vaccines (BCG, Measles/MR and JE) and
Rotavirus vaccines. These vaccines are to be used up to a maximum of 4 hours after
opening.10
Note: All vaccines vials must be marked with date & time of opening the vial at
first use.
What should be done with all returned vials (partially used

72. vials, empty vials and unopened vials) of vaccines that cannot
be reused during next session?
Ans. As per the “Open Vial Policy” guidelines, 2015, all vaccine vials (partially used vials,
empty vials and unopened vials) should be returned to the last cold chain point on the
same day. At the cold chain point, the cold chain handler should ensure appropriate
Guidelines on Open Vial Policy for using multi-dose vials in Universal Immunization Programme, September 2015.
10
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segregation as “To be used” and “Not to be used”, as per the following instructions;
To be used
à Unopened vials, if the VVM is intact and in usable stage
à Partially used vials on which the open vial policy is applicable
Not to be used
à Unopened vials, if the VVM is not in usable stage
à Complete defacement of label of the vial
à No mention of date/ time of opening on the opened vials
à Open vials of BCG, Measles/ MR, JE and Rotavirus Vaccine
à Empty vaccine vials
All returned vials (to be used and not be used) should be kept in the ILR. The vials
marked as not to be used should be discarded after 48 hours or before the next
session whichever is earlier. After this period, these vials should be discarded as per
biomedical waste management protocol. This is done to ensure availability of vaccine
vial for investigation, in case any adverse event occurs during this period. In case of
any reported AEFI they will not be discarded but retained for further investigation.
What should be done in case partially used vials are received

73. without date and time on them?
Ans. If the date and time of opening is not mentioned on the opened vials, they should
not be issued to any subsequent sessions. Such vaccine vials should be kept in the
box “Not to be used” in ILR for 48 hours or before the next session, whichever is
earlier and then must be discarded as per the guidelines.
74. What is “electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN)”?
Ans. eVIN is a Government of India’s initiative, launched in 2015, to support UIP by

providing real-time information on vaccine stocks and flows, and storage temperature
across all cold chain points of the country. In this system, cold chain handlers at all
levels are provided with smart phones equipped with eVIN application for updating
vaccine inventories. This is uploaded on a cloud server, which can then be viewed by
programme managers at district, state and national level through online dashboards.
In addition, system also helps to track storage temperature of vaccines through SIM-
enabled temperature loggers, which record temperature data every ten minutes and
update the server every hour via GPRS. In case of temperature breach, the logger
alarms and sends email and SMS alerts to responsible cold chain technicians and
managers.
FAQs on Immunization 35I

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SECTION: 8
Bio-medical Waste Management
What should be done with partially and fully used vaccine at the
75. session site?
Ans. As per the “Open Vial Policy” guidelines, 2015, all vaccine vials (partially used vials, empty
vials and unopened vials) should be returned to the last cold chain point on the same day.
The vials should be segregated as under;
To be used
à Unopened vials, if the VVM is in usable stage
à Partially used vials on which the open vial policy is applicable
Not to be used
à Open vials of BCG, Measles/ MR, JE and Rotavirus Vaccine
à Empty vaccine vials
à Vaccines with unusable VVM
The vials should be kept separately in properly sealed zipper pouches/bags in the vaccine
carrier under the cold chain (reverse cold chain) and ensure carrier is picked up by the
alternate vaccine delivery (AVD) mechanism to deliver at the designated vaccine/cold
storage point.
How should the used syringes and needles be discarded at the

76. session site?
Ans. At the session site, cut the needle of the AD Syringe immediately after administering the
injection using the hub cutter that cuts the plastic hub of the syringe and not the metal
part of the needle. The waste should be segregated as follows:
Hub-cutter:
à The cut needles that will get collected in the puncture-proof container of the
hub cutter.
à The broken vials/ diluent ampoules (sharps) may also be put in the container of
the hub-cutter, depending on the capacity of the hub cutter or may be stored
in a separate puncture proof container.
Red bag:
à Plastic part of syringes (after cutting the needle)
Black bag:
à Needle caps/ wrappers
The red, black bags and the hub-cutter should be sent to the PHC for disinfection
and disposal by the designated person at the PHC.
77. How should the immunization waste be managed at the PHC?
Ans. At the PHC,

à The black bag (containing the needle caps and wrappers) should be disposed
as municipal waste.
à The collected material in the red bag (plastic part of the syringe)
should be autoclaved. If unable to impart autoclaving, boil the waste
in water for 10 minutes or provide chemical treatment (treating
the waste in hypochlorite solution for 30 minutes). The autoclaved,
boiled or chemically disinfected syringes should be sent for recycling.
Note: All returned vials that cannot be used (reconstituted, empty and
unbroken vaccine vials and vaccine vials with unusable VVM) should be kept
in the ILR and should be discarded using the same protocol after 48 hours or
before the next session, whichever is earlier.
à The collected material in the hub cutter (cut needles, broken vials and ampoules)
should also be autoclaved, boiled or chemically disinfected and should be
disposed off in a safety pit/ tank.
à The hub cutter should be washed properly with sodium hypochlorite before
reuse.
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Cut Hub of AD syringe Plastic part of syringe Needle cap/ Wrappers
Immunization Site
Handle
Insertion Hole
Puncture Cut
Hub
proof
container Needle
Cold Chain Point
1) Cut needles and hub

2) Broken vials and ampoules
Disinfect in Hypochlorite Solution (for 30 Disinfect in Hypochlorite Solution (for 30 Dispose as

minutes) minutes) Municipal Waste
Dispose in Sharps Disposal Pit
RECYCLE
Figure 15: Bio-medical waste management
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SECTION: 9
Immunization Campaigns
78. What is Mission Indradhanush?

Ans. Mission Indhradhanush is a health initiative launched by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
(MoHFW), Government of India, in December 2014, with the ultimate goal to ensure
full immunization with all available vaccines for children up to two years and pregnant
women. The mission is based on 4 guiding principles – identify (the unimmunized),
validate (vaccination status), plan (for vaccine delivery), vaccinate (the unimmunized).
Government of India has identified 201 high focus districts across 28 states in the
country that have the highest number of partially immunized and unimmunized children,
and Mission Indradhanush target these districts through intensive efforts and special
immunization drives to improve the routine immunization coverage in the country.
79. What is Intensified Mission Indradhanush?

Ans. Fourth phase of Mission Indradhanush (2017-18) has been named as Intensified Mission
Indradhanush (IMI). It aims to rapidly build up immunization coverage by December 2018
and sustain thereafter through routine immunization.
IMI will be implemented in 108 districts across 16 states, 52 districts across 8 north eastern
states, and 17 urban areas across 8 states, with special focus on children up to 2 years of age
and pregnant women. This intensified mode will be characterized by better convergence
with other departments besides health, intensive monitoring by health ministry and
partners, prioritization of urban areas, and rewards on achievement of targets .
Should vaccines be given to children who come from other states

80. where it has not been introduced?
Ans. Yes. Vaccines should be given to children as per the guidelines irrespective of their original
state or place of residence, or the length of stay. Example, if a three-year child comes
to a JE endemic state for a month from another place where JE vaccination is not
provided under UIP. This child should be given one dose of JE vaccine while s/he is
residing in the endemic state where vaccine is provided under UIP.
If a child has received all doses of a vaccine through routine

81. immunization. Will s/he still require additional doses during a
campaign?
Ans. Yes. Even if the child has received the age-specific and recommended vaccines in
routine immunization, s/he should be given “additional” doses of the vaccine during
the campaigns such as pulse polio or measles/MR campaigns. Also, if a child has
received doses of a vaccine during a campaign, s/he should complete the vaccine
schedule through routine immunization as well.
These additional doses during campaigns can be given/ administered irrespective of
days since last dose was received. For example, if a child has received second dose
of OPV three weeks before, s/he can still receive an additional dose during the pulse
polio campaign.
82. Why is vaccine against rubella being introduced into UIP?

Ans. MR/ MMR vaccines have been in use in private sector for a long time. Now, Rubella
vaccine is being introduced in UIP as Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine to prevent
rubella infection in children and young adults.
Rubella is a viral disease, and during pregnancy this infection can cause abortion,
stillbirth and may also lead to multiple birth defects in the new-born (like blindness,
deafness, heart defects, development delays, and many other lifelong disabilities),
known as Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). This condition is a significant public
health problem, as India accounts for around one-third of all children born worldwide
with CRS.
Introduction of MR vaccine in UIP is an interim strategy to ensure measles elimination
and rubella control in South-East Asia Region by 2020.
If rubella vaccine aims to prevent infection in pregnant women

83. and subsequent birth defects in new-borns, why boys are also
being vaccinated with this vaccine?
Ans. Both boys and girls are equally susceptible and at risk of getting rubella infection.
Boys who get infected may cause transmission of rubella virus to unvaccinated
children and young adults, so both boys and girls should be vaccinated with MR
vaccine during MR campaigns and in routine immunization.
Why is Measles Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign being

84. conducted?
Ans. MR vaccination campaign is a special campaign to vaccinate all children in the age
group of 9 months to less than 15 years with one additional dose of MR vaccine,
irrespective of their previous vaccination status with measles vaccine. This wide age-
range campaign has been recommended by the NTAGI as this will provide a second
opportunity for those children who were left out due to either vaccine failure or
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failure to vaccinate. This will ensure attainment of high levels of population immunity
by reaching wide age group, including children missed under routine immunization
program.11
The purpose to conduct MR campaign is to boost the immunity, protect children
from infection, and eliminate transmission of these disease-causing agents from
the community by vaccinating 100 percent target children with MR vaccine. Further,
follow-up campaigns may be required to sustain high population immunity against
both measles and rubella besides maintaining high routine immunization coverage
for both the antigens.
Is MR vaccine being used during the campaigns safe for

85. children?
Ans. Yes. The Measles-rubella (MR) vaccine used in campaigns as well as immunization
programme is a live attenuated vaccine and safe and effective. The vaccine being
used is WHO pre-qualified and is used in India, along with several other neighbouring
countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Myanmar. Some children may have
transient, self-limiting, low fever and mild rash, which is due to the immune response
elicited by the vaccine, and should not be a cause of concern.
11
Introduction to Measles-Rubella Vaccine National Guidelines 2017
I
SECTION: 10
Vitamin-A
86. Is Vitamin A also a vaccine?

Ans. No. Vitamin A is not a vaccine. It is a micronutrient required by body for growth and
development. It also helps in maintaining immunity and supports good vision.
87. What are the signs of Vitamin A deficiency in children?

Ans. Night blindness is the first sign of Vitamin A deficiency, and in this condition affected
children have poor vision in darkness but can see normally when adequate light is present.
There are other signs which can be detected by medical officer at any health facility.
88. What is the schedule for giving Vitamin A?

Ans. Total 9 prophylactic doses of Vitamin A are given to children. First dose is given along with
measles vaccine at 9 months (completed), second dose with measles at 16-24 months,
and 3rd to 9th dose biannually till the age of 5 years. Minimum difference of 6 months
must be ensured between any two subsequent doses of vitamin A.
First dose of vitamin A syrup is 1 ml or 1,00,000 IU (half spoon), and second to ninth
dose is 2 ml or 2,00,000 IU (full spoon).
89. How is Vitamin A administered to children?
Ans. Vitamin A is available as syrup in dark coloured bottles. The syrup should be given with
spoon (having dose markings) provided with the bottle.
Can Vitamin A be given along with other orally administered
90. vaccines?
Ans. Yes. Vitamin A can be given along with other orally administered vaccines, like OPV
and Rotavirus Vaccine. However, they should not be mixed.
91. What precautions are required with Vitamin A?

Ans. Take the following precautions while using and administering vitamin A. These are:
à Vitamin A bottle once opened should be used within 8 weeks. Therefore, date
of opening a bottle should be clearly mentioned on its label.
à Bottles should be kept away from direct sunlight.
à Vitamin A syrup must only be administered with spoon (having dose markings)
provided with the bottle.
à Expiry date and date of opening the bottle should be checked before
administration.
Do not keep in
direct sunlight
The label should be intact
Expiry date has not passed

Date of opening should be mentioned
( Use within 8 weeks of opening)
Figure 16: Vitamin-A and formulation
What is the therapeutic treatment schedule for children with

92. clinical signs of Vitamin A deficiency?
Ans. In children having clinical signs of Vitamin A deficiency, it is recommended to
administer 200,000 IU (2 ml) of Vitamin A immediately after diagnosis, followed by
another dose of 200,000 IU (2 ml), 1-4 weeks later.
I
93. Why Vitamin A is given during measles outbreak?
Ans. Vitamin A supplementation is recommended for children who are infected during
the measles outbreak. This markedly reduces measles associated mortality among
the affected children. Utilization of Vitamin A is impaired during measles infection,
irrespective of the total body stores of the vitamin. Vitamin A should be given to
all measles cases, irrespective of whether it has previously been administered
prophylactically or given as routine immunization.12
Recommended Vitamin A dosage schedule for measles treatment is as follows:
Immediately on diag-
Age Next day
nosis
Infants < 6 months 50,000 IU 50,000 IU
Infants 6-11 months 1,00,000 IU 1,00,000 IU
Children >12 months 2,00,000 IU 2,00,000 IU
Table 4: Vitamin A dosage during a measles outbreak
Measles surveillance and outbreak investigation, Field Guide; Department of Family Welfare, New Delhi, November 2005
12
I
SECTION: 11
Program Planning and
Implementation
What is immunization component of Mother and Child Protection

94. (MCP) card?
Ans. MCP card is a document mentioning the record of vaccines
received (date and age), and dates for vaccines due. This card
is given to all beneficiaries (pregnant women and children), free
of cost, at first contact or at time of administering first vaccine
as per schedule. You should emphasize to caregivers the
importance of keeping this card safe and bringing it
along every time they come for vaccination.
MCP card is given to a pregnant woman at time of
confirmation of pregnancy and administration
of first dose of TT vaccine, and the same card
continues till complete vaccination (including
boosters and vitamin A doses) of her child.
However, if a pregnant woman has not
received or has lost her card, then a new card may
be issued to her child.
What should be done if parents/caretakers have lost or have not

95. brought MCP card along with them for vaccination?
Ans. In these situations, beneficiaries should never be denied for vaccination. If MCP card is
lost, then re-issue a new card after filling the old entries from their facility register. Please
explain to parents/caregivers about importance of keeping MCP card safe for ensuring
timely and complete vaccination. In case, parents have forgotten to bring the card, then
refer to the records and give the next vaccine due to the beneficiary.
What should be done if due vaccine is not available at the
96. health facility or session site?
Ans. In such a situation, administer all available and scheduled vaccines to the child and
advice to return in the next immunization session. Put the name of the child in
“missed-dose tracking” and ensure that the child receives the scheduled vaccines
in the next session. However, the parents/caretakers can also take their children to
higher level health facility for getting the scheduled vaccines.
What are the specific roles and responsibilities of health

97. worker, ASHA, and Anganwadi worker in UIP?
Ans. All these three cadres of health functionaries share responsibility to: generate
awareness regarding benefits of immunization, remove false beliefs in the community
concerning immunization and vaccines, and ensure that timely vaccination is given
to all beneficiaries.
ASHA workers play a specific role by preparing due list of beneficiaries to be
immunized during a session and updating it on a monthly basis, mobilizing them
to come to the session site where immunization services are being provided, and
support health worker in organizing the session. She maintains a record of all
immunization beneficiaries and updates it by adding vaccines administered to
individual beneficiaries on the session day.
Anganwadi worker also plays an important role by mobilizing beneficiaries,
supporting health workers in organizing sessions, and communicating important
messages to parents and caretakers. Immunization of adolescent girls and boys is
also a responsibility of Anganwadi workers.
Health worker administers vaccines, maintains cold chain,
ensures injection safety, updates records, and prepares
reports for submission to higher levels. They are also
responsible for providing support to ASHA, Anganwadi
workers, and other frontline functionaries in fulfilling
their responsibilities.
I
What are the four key messages that you must be given to
98. parents after each vaccination?
Ans. As per the national guidelines, the four key messages that need to be delivered to
parents and caregivers are:
à What vaccine was given, and what disease it prevents
à When and where to come for the next visit
à What minor adverse event could occur, and how to deal with them
à To keep the immunization card safe and to bring along for the next visit
After vaccination, ensure that the parents/ caregivers wait for at least 30 minutes at
the session site. Parents should be advised to immediately inform the ASHA/ AWW/
ANM/MO of nearest health facility, in case of any problem faced by the child or
mother even after 30 minutes.
What minor adverse To keep the

What vaccine was given When and where to event could occur, Immunization Cardsafe
and what disease it come for the next visit and how to deal with and bring it along for
prevents them the next visit
Figure 17: Four key messages
99. What is routine immunization microplanning?
Ans. RI microplanning is the basis for the delivery of UIP services to a community. The
availability of updated and complete micro-plans at a planning unit (urban/rural)
demonstrates preparedness of a unit and directly affects the quality of services
provided. Micro-plans are prepared for a one year period but must be reviewed
every quarter.13
According to national guidelines for immunization programme, all government
health facilities should prepare monthly plans for immunization service delivery to
each and every outreach area (i.e. villages, slums, other habitations, etc.) situated
within their catchment zones. These plans should be realistic, based on number of
beneficiaries identified from house to house survey, developed jointly by health
workers and frontline functionaries, and should be updated on quarterly basis.
ASHA worker is given incentive for conducting a house to house survey.
These plans for immunization service delivery are known as micro-plans as they
include specific details like – weekday and exact location of session, estimated
number of beneficiaries, estimate of vaccines and syringe requirement for a session,
names of vaccinator and other service providers (ASHA and Anganwadi worker),
timing of session (from – to), name of person responsible for vaccine delivery, name
of supervisor, etc.
100. Why is head count and house to house survey important for
improving immunization coverage?
Ans. These are important activities undertaken to improve immunization coverage.
These activities provide details of all beneficiaries (children and pregnant women)
in a specific area, ensuring that no beneficiary is missed out. This further helps in
developing complete due lists for session days, and correct estimates of injection
load, outreach sessions required, and requirement per session of different vaccines
and syringes.
101. Iscoverage
it useful to monitor vaccine consumption, wastage, and
achieved?
Ans. Vaccines are life-saving and involve lot of financial and human resources in purchase,
distribution and administration. Therefore, monitoring of vaccine consumption and
wastage, and matching it with the immunization coverage will help to ensure their
optimum utilization.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Immunization Handbook for Medical Officer 2016
13
I
SECTION: 12
Vaccination Scenarios
What vaccines should be given to a 15-days old infant who has not
been vaccinated?
Give BCG, OPV-0 One dose of BCG, must • Give 4 key messages
be administered to a child
below one year of age. • Counsel the parents
OPV-0 is given within 15 to bring the child
days of birth. for subsequent
vaccinations on time as
Hep-B Birth dose is given per the NIS
only within 24 hours of
birth.
What vaccines should be given to a 1-month old infant who has not
been vaccinated?
Give BCG One dose of BCG must be • Give 4 key messages

administered to a child
below one year of age. • Counsel the parents
to bring the child
OPV-0 is given within 15 for subsequent
days of birth and Hep-B vaccinations on time
Birth dose is given only as per the NIS
within 24 hours of birth.
What vaccines should be given to a 6-months old child who has
received BCG, OPV-1 and Penta-1 only?
Give OPV-2, Penta-2 RVV, PCV and IPV should • Complete the schedule
only be started along for OPV and Pentavalent
with 1st dose of OPV and by ensuring the
Pentavalent vaccine. recommended interval
between administration
Thus, if a child has already of two doses
received 1st dose of
Pentavalent and OPV s/he • Give 4 key messages
will NOT be started RVV, • Counsel the parents
PCV, IPV under UIP. to bring the child for
subsequent vaccinations
on time as per the NIS
Remember to ensure
• Minimum 4 weeks of interval between administration of two doses of OPV, RVV and Pentavalent
What vaccines should be given to a 7-months old child who has not
been vaccinated?
Give BCG, OPV-1, As per the NIS, BCG, OPV, • Complete the schedule
RVV-1, Penta-1, IPV- RVV, IPV, Pentavalent and for OPV, RVV, IPV,
1, PCV-1 PCV have to be started Pentavalent and
before 1 year of age, if the PCV by ensuring the
child is unvaccinated after recommended interval
6 weeks of birth. between administration of
two doses
The subsequent doses
should be administered as • Give 4 key messages
per NIS. • Counsel the parents
to bring the child for
Remember to ensure
• IPV-2 is given only with OPV-3 and Penta-3
• Minimum 8 weeks of interval between administration of two doses of PCV
• Minimum 8 weeks of interval between administration of PCV-2 and PCV-B if child is delayed for
vaccination
I
received OPV-1, RVV-1 and Penta-1 only?
Give BCG, OPV-2, One dose of BCG, must • Complete the schedule
RVV-2, Penta-2 be administered to a child for OPV, RVV and
below one year of age. Pentavalent by ensuring
the recommended
For OPV, RVV and interval between
Pentavalent, if at least administration of two
one dose is given before doses
one year of age, then
remaining doses should be • Give 4 key messages
administered as per NIS • Counsel the parents
Remember to ensure
Vaccine.

received BCG, OPV-2, RVV-1, Penta-2, IPV-1, PCV-1 only?
Give OPV-3, RVV-2, For OPV, RVV, IPV, • Complete the schedule for
IPV-2, Penta-3, PCV- pentavalent and PCV, if RVV and PCV by ensuring
2, MCV-1, JE-1 at least one dose is given the recommended
before one year of age, interval between
then remaining doses administration of two
should be administered as doses
per NIS.
• Give 4 key messages
• Counsel the parents
Remember to ensure
• Minimum 4 weeks of interval between administration of two doses of RVV
vaccination
What vaccines should be given to a 10-months old child who has never
been vaccinated?
Give BCG, OPV-1, As per the NIS, BCG, OPV, • Complete the schedule
RVV-1, IPV-1, Penta-1, RVV, IPV, Penta and PCV for OPV, RVV, IPV,
PCV-1, MCV-1, JE-1 must be started before Pentavalent and
1 year of age, if the child PCV by ensuring the
is unvaccinated after 6 recommended interval
weeks of birth. between administration of
two doses
MCV and JE must be
started for a child below • Give 4 key messages
5 years and 15 years of • Counsel the parents
age respectively and to bring the child for
is unvaccinated after 9 subsequent vaccinations
months of birth. on time as per the NIS
The subsequent doses

should be administered as
per NIS
Remember to ensure
vaccination
What vaccines should be given to a 11-months old child who has received
BCG, OPV- 2, RVV-2, IPV-1 , Penta-2, PCV-1, MCV-1, JE-1 only?
Give OPV-3, RVV-3, For OPV, RVV, IPV, • Complete the schedule
IPV-2, Penta-3, Pentavalent and PCV, if for PCV by ensuring the
PCV-2 at least one dose is given recommended interval
before one year of age, between administration of
then remaining doses two doses
should be administered as
per NIS. • Give 4 key messages
Remember to ensure
vaccination
I
been vaccinated?
Give OPV-1, DPT-1, According to NIS, if the • Complete the schedule for
MCV-1, JE-1 first dose of BCG, RVV, OPV and DPT by ensuring
Penta and IPV is not the recommended interval
administered before between administration of
one year of age, then two doses
these vaccines cannot be
administered to the child • Give 4 key messages
under UIP. • Counsel the parents
Upper age limit of the subsequent vaccinations
vaccines are: OPV (up on time as per the NIS
to 5 years), DPT (up to
7 years), MCV (up to 5
years), JE (up to 15 years).
Remember to ensure
• Minimum 4 weeks of interval between administration of two doses of OPV and DPT

received BCG, OPV-1, IPV-1, Penta-1 only?
Give OPV-2, For pentavalent, if at least • Complete the schedule

Penta-2, MCV-1, one dose is given before for OPV, IPV, Pentavalent
JE-1 one year of age, then and JE by ensuring the
remaining doses should recommended interval
be administered as per between administration of
NIS. two doses
Schedule for MCV and • Give 4 key messages

JE must be started for • Counsel the parents
children for children to bring the child for
below 5 years and 15 subsequent vaccinations
years respectively. on time as per the NIS
Remember to ensure
• Minimum 4 weeks of interval between administration of two doses of OPV and Pentavalent
• Minimum 12 weeks of interval between administration of two doses of JE
• Minimum 6 months to 1 year of gap between the primary doses of Penta, OPV and booster doses of
DPT, OPV respectively
been vaccinated?
Give OPV-1, DPT-1, According to NIS, if the • Complete the schedule

MCV-1, JE-1 first dose of BCG, RVV, OPV, DPT, MCV and
Penta and IPV is not JE by ensuring the
administered before recommended interval
one year of age, then between administration of
these vaccines cannot be two doses
administered to the child
under UIP. • Give 4 key messages
Upper age limit of the to bring the child for
vaccines are: OPV (up subsequent vaccinations
to 5 years), DPT (up to on time as per the NIS
years), JE (up to 15 years).
Remember to ensure
• Minimum 4 weeks of interval between administration of two doses of OPV, DPT and MCV
• Minimum 6 months to 1 year of gap between the primary doses of DPT, OPV and booster doses of

received BCG, OPV-2, RVV- 2, IPV-1 Penta-2, PCV-1 only?
Give OPV-3, RVV-3, For pentavalent, IPV, • Complete the schedule

IPV-2, Penta-3, PCV- PCV and RVV, if at for PCV, MCV and
2, MCV-1, JE-1 least one dose is given JE by ensuring the
before one year of age, recommended interval
then remaining doses between administration of
can be administered two doses
and schedule must be
completed irrespective of • Give 4 key messages
the age of child. • Counsel the parents
Schedule for MCV and subsequent vaccinations
JE must be started for on time as per the NIS
children for children
below 5 years and 15
years respectively
Remember to ensure
• Minimum 4 weeks of interval between administration of two doses of MCV
vaccination
• Minimum 6 months to 1 year of gap between the primary doses of Penta, OPV and booster doses of
I
What vaccines should be given to a 24-months old child (2 years) who
has never been vaccinated?
Give OPV-1, DPT-1, According to NIS, if the • Complete the schedule for
MCV-1, JE-1 first dose of BCG, RVV, OPV, DPT, MCV and JE
Penta and IPV is not
administered before • Give 4 key messages
one year of age, then • Counsel the parents
these vaccines cannot be to bring the child for
administered to the child subsequent vaccinations
under UIP. on time as per the NIS
Upper age limit of the

vaccines are: OPV (up
to 5 years), DPT (up to
years), JE (up to 15 years)
Remember to ensure
• Minimum 4 weeks of interval between administration of two doses of OPV, DPT and MCV
What vaccines should be given to a 3 years old child who has received
BCG, OPV-3, RVV- 3, IPV-2, Penta-3, PCV-2 only?
For PCV, if at least one • Complete the schedule

Give PCV-B (ensure a 8 dose is given before for MCV by ensuring the
weeks gap between PCV- one year of age, then recommended interval
2 and PCV-B), MCV-1, JE- remaining doses can between administration of
1, DPT-B, OPV-B (ensure be administered and two doses
6months to 1 year gap schedule must be
between the booster and completed irrespective as • Give 4 key messages
primary vaccination) per NIS. • Counsel the parents
Schedule for MCV and subsequent vaccinations
JE must be started for on time as per the NIS
children for children
below 5 years and 15
years respectively
Remember to ensure
• Minimum 4 weeks of interval between administration of two doses of MCV
vaccination
What vaccines should be given to a 5-years old child who has never
been vaccinated?
Give DPT-1, JE-1 Upper age limit of the • Complete the schedule
vaccines are: OPV (up for DPT by ensuring the
to 5 years), DPT (up to recommended interval
7 years), MCV (up to 5 between administration of
years), JE (up to 15 years) two doses
• Give 4 key messages
Remember to ensure
• Minimum 4 weeks of interval between administration of two doses of DPT
• Minimum 6 months to 1 year of gap between the primary doses and booster doses of DPT
I
National Immunization Schedule
Vaccine Dose Recommended Age Volume Route and site of administration
Infants and Children
BCG Single At birth 0.05 ml1 Intradermal (LEFT upper arm)
Hepatitis B Birth dose At birth 0.5 ml Intramuscular (Antero-lateral side of LEFT mid-thigh)
Zero dose At birth 2 drops Oral (mouth)
First 6 weeks 2 drops Oral (mouth)
OPV Second 10 weeks 2 drops Oral (mouth)
Third 14 weeks 2 drops Oral (mouth)
Booster 16-24 months 2 drops Oral (mouth)
First 6 weeks 0.5 ml Intramuscular (Antero-lateral side of LEFT mid-thigh)
Penta- Second 10 weeks 0.5 ml Intramuscular (Antero-lateral side of LEFT mid-thigh)
valent
Third 14 weeks 0.5 ml Intramuscular (Antero-lateral side of LEFT mid-thigh)
First 6 weeks 5 drops Oral (mouth)
Rotavirus* Second 10 weeks 5 drops Oral (mouth)
Third 14 weeks 5 drops Oral (mouth)
First 6 weeks 0.5 ml Intramuscular (Antero-lateral side of RIGHT midthigh)
PCV* Second 14 weeks 0.5 ml Intramuscular (Antero-lateral side of RIGHT mid-thigh)
Booster 9 months 0.5 ml Intramuscular (Antero-lateral side of RIGHT mid-thigh)
First 6 weeks 0.1 ml Intradermal (RIGHT upper arm)
IPV
Second 14 weeks 0.1 ml Intradermal (RIGHT upper arm)
Measles/ First 9-12 months 0.5 ml Subcutaneous (RIGHT upper arm)
MR* Booster 16-24 months 0.5 ml Subcutaneous (RIGHT upper arm)
First 9-12 months 0.5 ml Subcutaneous (LEFT upper arm)
JE*2
Second 16-24 months 0.5 ml Subcutaneous (LEFT upper arm)
First 16-24 months 0.5 ml Intramuscular (Antero-lateral side of LEFT mid-thigh)
booster
DPT
Second 5-6 years 0.5 ml Intramuscular (upper arm)
booster
First 10 years 0.5 ml Intramuscular (upper arm)
TT
Second 16 years 0.5 ml Intramuscular (upper arm)
Pregnant women
First Earliest possible 0.5 ml Intramuscular (upper arm)
Second 4 week after 1st dose 0.5 ml Intramuscular (upper arm)
TT
Booster If received 2 TT doses in a 0.5 ml Intramuscular (upper arm)
pregnancy within the last 3
years
(1) If BCG is administered after one month of age, then dose will be 0.1 ml
(2) JE vaccine is given only in endemic districts.
Table 5:National Immunization Schedule
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
Advisors
Ms. Vandana Gurnani, MoHFW, Govt. of India
Dr. Pradeep Haldar, MoHFW, Govt. of India
Dr. M.K Agarwal, MoHFW, Govt. of India
Ms. Manisha Verma, MoHFW, Govt. of India
Developing team
Dr. M.K Agarwal, MoHFW, Govt. of India
Dr. Pritu Dhalaria, JSI
Dr. Manish Jain, Consultant
Dr. Akash Malik, JSI
Dr. Sumeet Juneja, JSI
Chahat Narula Thakur, JSI
Shubhneet Kaur Gujral, Consultant
Special thanks to
Dr. Praful Bharadwaj, Gavi Secretariat
Dr. Sheenu Chaudhary, JSI-ITSU
Dr. Amit Harshana, JSI-ITSU
John Snow India acknowledges the inputs and support of other partners, including BMGF, ITSU,
UNDP, UNICEF, WHO India, NCCVMRC, and CHAI in finalizing the content based on
queries of various groups of stakeholders.
Compiled and edited by JSI India (for MoHFW, Govt. of India)

NOTES
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Frequently Asked Questions on

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Immunity and Vaccines 1

Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) and National Immunization Schedule (NIS) 7

Vaccination of Pregnant Women 13

Side Eﬀects, Adverse Events, and Contraindications 17

Vaccine Handling, Administration, and Injection Safety 21

Bio-medical Waste Management 37

Program Planning and Implementation 49

National Immunization Schedule 61

Table 2: Vaccines and disease prevented 8

Table 3: Sequence of vaccination at 6, 10, 14 weeks and 9 months 23

Table 4: Vitamin A dosage during a measles outbreak 47

Table 5:National Immunization Schedule 61

Figure 2: Depiction of herd immunity 5

Figure 3: Using cold compresses for pain at injection site 18

Figure 4: Child with sites of multiple vaccines 22

Figure 5: Using AD syringe 25

Figure 6: Storage and transportation of vaccines (Cold Chain System) 27

Figure 7: ILR with vaccine arrangement (Front view) 28

Figure 8: Vaccine carrier 29

Figure 9: Ice-pack with vials kept on it 30

Figure 10: Freezing and conditioning of ice-packs 31

Figure 11: Procedure of reconstitution 32

Figure 12: VVM diﬀerent stages 33

Figure 13: VVM placement on vials 33

Figure 14: Points to be checked as per Open Vial Policy 34

Figure 15: Bio-medical waste management 39

Figure 16: Vitamin-A and formulation 46

Figure 17: Four key messages 51

3. Do children have natural immunity against diseases?

Ans. Vaccines contain either weakened or killed versions of viruses or bacteria, or an

Figure 1: Vaccines protect against infection

5. What is the duration of immunity provided by immunization?

6. When does the process of child immunization start?

8. What are the various types of vaccines?

Vaccine Type Description Examples

Contain inactivated form of disease

Contain genetically modified form of

Contain inactivated form of toxins

Is there any diﬀerence in the vaccine quality provided by

Which diseases have been successfully eliminated/ eradicated

Is it true that individual vaccination also ensures protection of

not immunized but not immunized, sick, immunized and

Most of the population

Figure 2: Depiction of herd immunity

What is the reason that some children suﬀer from vaccine

14. What are vaccine hesitancy and vaccine conﬁdence?

Why have certain vaccines been introduced in some states

What is the National Immunization Schedule under Universal

Which vaccines are currently given to a child in India’s Universal

BCG Childhood Tuberculosis (or Primary Complex)

Hepatitis B Hepatitis B (affecting liver)

RVV* Rotavirus diarrhoea

Measles Measles (Khasra or Govar)

MR* Measles and Rubella

Japanese Encephalitis or Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES)

DPT Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus

TT Tetanus (in new-born and pregnant women)