Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP)
Context:
In alignment with recent National Vaccination Day (March 16) celebrations the Government of India highlighted the monumental successes and expansions of the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), reaffirming its status as one of the world's largest and most impactful public health interventions.
The Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP)
The Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) is a public health initiative launched in 1985 and implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Its primary purpose is to provide free vaccines to children and pregnant women to protect them against various diseases.
The program operates on a massive scale, successfully reaching around 2.9 crore pregnant women and 2.54 crore newborns each year.
In total, the UIP provides vaccines to pregnant women, newborns, children, and adolescents to protect against 12 life-threatening diseases.
Disease
Brief Description
Tuberculosis
A severe bacterial infection primarily affecting the lungs; in children, it can spread to the brain and multiple organs.
Diphtheria
A bacterial infection affecting the throat that can lead to breathing difficulties, heart failure, and nerve damage.
Pertussis
Also known as whooping cough; a highly contagious respiratory tract infection that is particularly dangerous for infants.
Tetanus
A bacterial infection contracted through contaminated wounds that causes painful muscle stiffness and lockjaw.
Polio
A highly infectious viral disease that attacks the nervous system and can cause permanent irreversible paralysis or death.
Measles
A highly contagious viral disease that causes severe fever and rash, potentially leading to blindness or encephalitis.
Rubella
A contagious viral infection; if contracted during pregnancy, it can cause severe birth defects (Congenital Rubella Syndrome).
Hepatitis B
A viral infection that attacks the liver and can cause both acute and chronic disease, including liver cirrhosis and cancer.
Meningitis & Pneumonia (Hib)
Bacterial infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b, leading to inflammation of the brain/spinal cord membranes and lungs.
Rotavirus Diarrhoea
A highly contagious viral infection that is the leading cause of severe, dehydrating diarrhoea in infants and young children.
Pneumococcal Pneumonia
A bacterial infection causing severe lung inflammation, fever, and difficulty breathing.
Japanese Encephalitis
A mosquito-borne viral infection that causes inflammation of the brain. Note: This vaccine is provided only in identified endemic districts.
Objectives of the UIP:
The program outlines five specific objectives:
To increase immunisation coverage.
To improve the quality of services.
To establish a reliable cold chain system to the health facility level.
Monitoring of performance.
To achieve self-sufficiency in vaccine production.
Scale and Coverage:
India has witnessed a dramatic improvement in its full immunisation coverage, rising steeply from 62% in 2015 to a near-universal 98.4% by January 2026.
The percentage of zero-dose children (those entirely missing out on routine vaccines) relative to the total population has successfully declined from 0.11% in 2023 to just 0.06% in 2024.
Key Milestones:
Through sustained and targeted vaccination efforts, India has successfully eradicated smallpox and eliminated yaws, polio, as well as maternal and neonatal tetanus.
The government actively continues to expand the UIP umbrella.
In 2026, it officially launched a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign specifically targeting girls aged 14 years.
Furthermore, indigenous Td (Tetanus and adult Diphtheria) vaccines have been newly integrated into the programme.