India's government childhood vaccination schedule begins at birth, continues through visits at 6, 10 and 14 weeks, and includes later infant and childhood visits and boosters through age 16. It is the National Immunisation Schedule under the Universal Immunisation Programme, or UIP. Use it to understand the age bands on a child's vaccination card, then ask the vaccination clinic to confirm the child's actual due dates.
The chart below combines the schedule in the government's March 2026 vaccination explainer with the Health Ministry's specific announcement adding the third fractional inactivated polio vaccine, or fIPV3. That addition matters: the shorter 2026 summary omits it, while the ministry announcement explicitly places it at 9-12 months. Both official sources were checked on 30 October 2026.
Government vaccination schedule for babies and children
| Age | Vaccines listed in the government schedule |
|---|---|
| Birth | BCG, OPV zero dose, hepatitis B birth dose |
| 6 weeks | OPV1, pentavalent1, RVV1, fIPV1, PCV1 |
| 10 weeks | OPV2, pentavalent2, RVV2 |
| 14 weeks | OPV3, pentavalent3, fIPV2, RVV3, PCV2 |
| 9-12 months | MR1, PCV booster, fIPV3, JE1 where applicable |
| 16-24 months | MR2, DPT booster1, OPV booster, JE2 where applicable |
| 5-6 years | DPT booster2 |
| 10 years | Td |
| 16 years | Td |
The PIB vaccination explainer states that Japanese encephalitis vaccination applies in endemic districts. The JE entries are therefore conditional. A family should ask its local public health team whether that part of the schedule applies, instead of assuming every district follows an identical JE arrangement.
The table is an explanation of age bands, not an injection or dosing guide. The numbers after vaccine abbreviations identify entries in a series; they do not tell a parent how to administer a vaccine. Birth entries also deserve prompt attention. A family should confirm them with the maternity facility rather than assuming they can all be left until the first 6 week visit.
What do OPV, fIPV, MR and pentavalent mean?
OPV means oral polio vaccine. fIPV is fractional inactivated polio vaccine. They are separately named entries, so the appearance of polio drops on a card does not by itself explain every polio related entry in the schedule. Ask the clinic to reconcile the written record with the national schedule if an abbreviation is unclear.
MR means measles and rubella, while PCV means pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and RVV means rotavirus vaccine. DPT refers to diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus. Td refers to tetanus and adult diphtheria. Keeping these names beside the card can help a parent follow the clinic's explanation without trying to interpret shorthand from memory.
The government explainer describes pentavalent as covering DPT, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b. It is a combined vaccine entry. BCG is Bacillus Calmette Guerin. These names explain the chart; they are not a recommendation to select an alternative formulation or independently change a child's planned vaccination.
Why the third fractional polio vaccine needs attention
The ministry's official year end review says fIPV3 entered the National Immunisation Schedule with effect from 1 January 2023. It states that this third entry is given with the MR containing vaccine during 9-12 months of age. This article includes it rather than reproducing the omission in the shorter summary.
That discrepancy is also a reason to take a child's own record to a trained health worker. A summary chart on the internet can be useful for orientation while still being incomplete. If two charts disagree, ask the clinic which current operational instructions it follows and have the next appointment recorded clearly.
Where are government vaccinations available?
The 2026 PIB explainer says UIP vaccines are provided free to beneficiaries through government facilities and outreach sessions. It names primary health centres, community health centres, government hospitals, sub centres and sessions at Anganwadi centres or other identified village locations. Confirm the session day locally before making a journey.
The same official page describes U-Win as a way to find centres, manage appointments and maintain records. Whether using a digital record or a paper card, check the child's name, birth date and recorded visits with the clinic. A reminder of an upcoming appointment and evidence of a completed vaccination are different things.
If a vaccination was missed, take the record to a qualified clinician or vaccination team for an individual catch up plan. This article does not supply catch up intervals, maximum ages or instructions to repeat a series. If your child has a medical condition or a history of a serious reaction, consult a qualified doctor before the next vaccination visit.
For related public health reading, see the report on a Varanasi polio awareness rally, the guide to reading food labels and the explainer on sleep duration and quality.
