**Subject: Summary of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2118 Regarding Immunization of Children in India**
This document summarizes the response provided by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel, to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2118, answered on August 1, 2025, concerning the immunization of children across the country.
The Universal Immunization Program (UIP) is a major public health initiative in India, providing immunization services to an estimated 2.57 crore children and 2.9 crore pregnant women annually. The program provides 11 vaccines for 12 vaccine-preventable diseases. The full immunization coverage for FY 2024-25 is reported to be approximately 98%.
To improve vaccination coverage, the government has implemented several measures, including:
* State, District, and Block Task Forces on Immunization (STFI, DTFI, BTFI) to ensure effective program implementation.
* Strategic interventions involving advocacy, social mobilization, interpersonal communication at the family level, and media engagement.
* Supplementary immunization campaigns in areas with low immunization coverage.
* Special vaccination campaigns, such as National Immunization Days (NIDs) as part of the Pulse Polio program.
* Hosting Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHND) for immunization activities.
* The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched the UWIN portal for digital registration and recording of all vaccination events for children and pregnant women.
The Government of India encourages States/UTs to establish model immunization centers based on their needs. Model immunization centers are currently operational in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chandigarh, and Ladakh.
Key Entities Referenced
Pulse Polio programme: A special vaccination campaign under National Immunization Days (NIDs).
Universal Immunization Program: A public health initiative providing immunization services to children and pregnant women.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Indian government ministry responsible for health policy.
UWIN portal: A digital portal for the registration and recording of vaccination events.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India where model immunization centers are operational.
Bihar: A state in India where model immunization centers are operational.
Madhya Pradesh: A state in India where model immunization centers are operational.
Karnataka: A state in India where model immunization centers are operational.
GOVERNMENT OFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENT OFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2118
TO BE ANSWERED ON01STAUGUST2025
IMMUNISATIONOFCHILDREN
2118. SHRIKAMAKHYAPRASAD TASA:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether it is a fact that immunisation of children across the country is a big challenge and
if so, the detailsthereof;
(b) whether the Government has any data about the percentage of children fully immunised
against diseases inthe countryand if so, the detailsthereof;
(c) the details of the steps being taken by the Government to further improve the position in
thisregard;
(d) whether the Government hasanyplansto encourage Statesfor havingmodelimmunisation
centres, eveningimmunisation campsamongothermeasures for thispurpose; and
(e)if so, the detailsthereof andif not,the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a) & (b) Universal Immunization Program is one of the largest public health initiative in the
world. Nationally, it provides immunization services to estimated 2.57 crore children and 2.9
crore pregnant women every year. Universal Immunization Program provides 11 vaccines for
12 vaccine preventable diseases. The Full Immunization coverage of the country is around
98% for the FY2024-25.
(c)Various steps takenbythe Government toimprove the vaccination coverage are:
StateTaskForceonImmunization(STFI),DistrictTaskForceonImmunization(DTFI)
andBlockTask ForceonImmunization(BTFI)ensure effective implementationof the
program which are regularlyundertaken. Strategic interventions like advocacy, social mobilization, inter personal
communication at family level and media engagement are undertaken to improve
immunizationcoverage.
Supplementary immunization campaigns are conducted in areas of low immunization
coverage tovaccinateleftout anddroppedoutchildrenandpregnantwomen.
Special vaccination campaigns such as National Immunization Days (NIDs) as a part
ofthe PulsePolioprogramme arecarriedouteveryyear.
Hosting of Village Health and Nutrition Days (VHND) on designated days for
immunizationactivities.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has rolled out the UWIN portal for the digital
registration andrecordingof all vaccinationeventsof childrenandpregnantwomen.
(d) & (e) Government of India encourages States/UTs for establishing model immunization
centers as per their need. The model immunization centers are presently operational in Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar,Madhya Pradesh,Karnataka, ChandigarhandLadakh.
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