Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 17: India’s immunisation journey, spanning from the eradication of smallpox in 1977 to administering 200 crore COVID-19 doses, has achieved several verified public health milestones, according to a government fact-sheet released Tuesday. The country now aims to eliminate Measles-Rubella, continuing its legacy of vaccine-driven disease control.
India has successfully eradicated smallpox, polio, and maternal and neonatal tetanus, and continues to expand its Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) with recent additions such as HPV and indigenous Td vaccines in 2026.
The fact-sheet highlights that the UIP, one of the world’s largest immunisation initiatives, reaches 2.9 crore pregnant women and 2.54 crore newborns annually, entirely free of cost. Full immunisation coverage has risen from 62 per cent in 2015 to 98.4 per cent as of January 2026, while the percentage of zero-dose children fell from 0.11 per cent in 2023 to 0.06 per cent in 2024.
Over the past decade, India has added several new vaccines to its programme, including:
• Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) – 2015
• Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV) – 2016
• Measles-Rubella (MR) Vaccine – 2017
• Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) – 2017
The nationwide HPV vaccination campaign, launched on February 28, 2026, from Ajmer, Rajasthan by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, targets 14-year-old girls to protect against cervical cancer. Approximately 1.15 crore girls across India are expected to receive the vaccine free of cost at government health facilities.
India’s vaccine cold chain is among the largest globally, comprising nearly 30,000 storage points from national supply depots down to sub-district primary health centres. The infrastructure includes over 1.06 lakh ice-lined refrigerators and deep freezers, along with 432 walk-in coolers and freezers for bulk storage.
Annually, the UIP conducts over 1.3 crore immunisation sessions, maintaining strict temperature control to ensure vaccines remain potent and reach every beneficiary effectively.
The fact-sheet underscores India’s sustained commitment to strengthening public health and expanding equitable access to life-saving vaccines nationwide.