Achievements under Immunization Programme

The Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) has been operational in India since 1985. However, the coverage has increased by only 4% in the last 4 years i.e. at the rate of 1% per year. The Government of India launched “Mission Indradhanush” on 25 December 2014 as a special drive to expand full immunization coverage in India from 65% in 2014 to at least 90% children in the next five years.

Under “Mission Indradhanush”, 75.5 lakh children were vaccinated and a total of 19.7 lakh children were fully vaccinated. In addition, a total of 20.8 lakh pregnant women were vaccinated for tetanus toxoid.

Since the launch of UIP in 1985, infant mortality rate and under-five mortality rate due to vaccine preventable diseases has decreased considerably. India’s infant mortality rate has declined from 80 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 40 per 1,000 live births in 2013 and under-five mortality rate from 126 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 49 per 1,000 live births in 2013. This has been possible due to child health interventions including immunization.

The Health Minister, Shri J P Nadda stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.