India's Immunization Milestones: A Journey of Health Achievements
Significant Achievements in India's Immunization Program
New Delhi, March 17: India's immunization efforts have seen remarkable successes, from the eradication of smallpox in 1977 to the elimination of polio and neonatal tetanus. The country has administered 200 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines and is now focused on eliminating Measles and Rubella, as highlighted in an official fact-sheet released on Tuesday.
Through vaccination, India has successfully eradicated smallpox, polio, and maternal and neonatal tetanus, while continuously enhancing its immunization initiatives. The latest additions include the HPV and indigenous Td vaccines, which were introduced in 2026.
The Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) in India is one of the largest globally, providing free vaccinations to 2.9 crore pregnant women and 2.54 crore newborns annually. The coverage for full immunization has surged from 62% in 2015 to an impressive 98.4% as of January 2026, according to the fact-sheet.
The proportion of zero-dose children has decreased from 0.11% in 2023 to 0.06% in 2024, reflecting the program's effectiveness.
Over the last decade, several new vaccines have been incorporated into the UIP, including the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) in 2015, the Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV) in 2016, the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine in 2017, and the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) in 2017.
A nationwide campaign for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination commenced on February 28, 2026, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ajmer, Rajasthan. This initiative aims to protect 14-year-old girls from cervical cancer, with around 1.15 crore girls expected to receive the vaccine at no cost through government health facilities.
India boasts one of the largest vaccine cold chains worldwide, featuring nearly 30,000 cold chain points, from national Government Medical Supply Depots to Primary Health Centres at the sub-district level.
These storage facilities, including hospitals and community health centres, are equipped with over 1.06 lakh ice-lined refrigerators and deep freezers, along with 432 walk-in coolers and freezers for bulk vaccine storage. The network conducts over 1.3 crore immunization sessions each year, ensuring that temperature integrity is maintained at every stage to guarantee that vaccines reach beneficiaries in optimal condition.