Immunization Programs — Basic Structure
Basic Structure
Trace a vaccination service
- Identify the eligible population and the applicable programme schedule.
- Procure and distribute supplies with appropriate temperature and stock management.
- Provide accessible sessions with trained personnel and accurate records.
- Follow up missed beneficiaries and incomplete schedules.
- Monitor coverage, dropout, equity and adverse events.
Separate the main systems
India's Expanded Programme on Immunization began in 1978 and became the Universal Immunization Programme in 1985. Mission Indradhanush, launched in December 2014, addresses missed and partially covered populations. eVIN supports vaccine logistics and temperature information; U-WIN, nationally launched on 29 October 2024, supports vaccination-event and beneficiary tracking. A stock record and a person's vaccination record answer different questions.
Use the right denominator
Coverage compares recipients of a specified dose with the eligible population. Dropout between first and later doses compares the difference with those who received the first dose. A percentage-point gap between two coverage rates is not necessarily the dropout percentage.
Interpret safety and programme updates carefully
An AEFI is an adverse event following immunization; temporal sequence does not settle causation. Safety surveillance and appropriate assessment are part of a responsible programme. The HPV campaign launched on 28 February 2026 provides a current policy anchor for 14-year-old girls. Doses delivered measure activity, not an already demonstrated reduction in future cancer incidence. Older rollout plans on an updated website must retain their historical dates.