While immunisation coverage in the first year of life is high in India, the rate tends to drop after the first birthday. Hence, a significant number of children in the country remain partially vaccinated. It is essential for children to receive key vaccinations even after their first birthday to strengthen their immunity against serious vaccine-preventable diseases, ensuring a happy and healthy future.
The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) recommends 7 vaccinations for children aged 1 to 2 years: two doses of chickenpox and hepatitis A, a second dose of meningitis and MMR, booster doses of PCV and DTP Hib IPV, and an annual dose of flu.
These 7 essential vaccinations protect against 14 diseases, such as chickenpox, hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, meningitis, measles, mumps, rubella, pneumonia, influenza, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, and HiB infection. Speaking on the need for these essential vaccinations, Dr Nirmal Kumar Jain, Senior Child Specialist, Institute of Human Reproduction, Guwahati, said, “Vaccination is a key step to shield children from preventable diseases and their complications.”
