**Executive Summary:**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1129 regarding zero-dose vaccination in India. It details the government's efforts to reduce the number of zero-dose children, address social stigmas related to vaccination, ensure comprehensive vaccination coverage, and support ASHA workers involved in immunization programs. The data indicates a decline in zero-dose children from 2023 to 2024.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Zero Dose Vaccination Data:** The number of zero-dose children (those who have not received the Pentavalent 1 vaccine) has decreased from 16 lakhs in 2023 to 9.09 lakhs in 2024.
* **Addressing Social Stigma:**
* Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities are implemented nationwide.
* Dissemination is carried out through Doordarshan, radio jingles, YouTube podcasts, and social media platforms (X, Instagram, Facebook).
* Localized community-level activities include miking, posters, and group meetings.
* **Ensuring Comprehensive Vaccination:**
* Zero Dose Implementation Plan developed for 143 districts in 11 states.
* Mission Indradhanush (MI) and Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) campaigns: Twelve phases conducted until 2023, vaccinating 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women.
* National Immunization Days (NIDs) and Sub National Immunization Days (SNIDs) for the Pulse Polio program are conducted annually. India has maintained a Polio-free status since 2014.
* Village Health and Nutrition Day (VHND) is hosted on designated days for immunization activities.
* State, District, and Block Task Forces on Immunization (STFI, DTFI, BTFI) ensure effective implementation.
* The UWIN portal is developed for registration and recording of vaccination events for children and pregnant women.
* **Support for ASHA Workers:**
* ASHAs are trained annually on routine immunization.
* ASHAs are provided with incentives as per National Health Mission financial norms.
* ASHA incentives for routine and recurring activities have been increased to ₹3500 per month from ₹2000 per month.
**Impact Analysis:**
**Children and Pregnant Women:**
* *Impact:* Increased access to vaccinations, leading to improved health outcomes and protection against preventable diseases.
* *Action Required:* Participate in vaccination programs and utilize the UWIN portal for registration and record-keeping.
**Parents and Communities:**
* *Impact:* Increased awareness and education about the importance of vaccination, addressing social stigmas and misconceptions.
* *Action Required:* Engage in community-level activities and utilize available resources to make informed decisions about vaccination.
**ASHA Workers:**
* *Impact:* Enhanced skills and increased compensation for their role in ensuring comprehensive vaccination coverage.
* *Action Required:* Participate in training programs and effectively implement immunization service delivery.
**State and District Health Officials:**
* *Impact:* Guidance and resources to implement and monitor vaccination programs effectively.
* *Action Required:* Implement the Zero Dose Implementation Plan, conduct MI/IMI campaigns, and utilize the UWIN portal for data management.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Union Government Ministry responsible for health policy in India.
Zero Dose Vaccination: Refers to children who have not received any vaccinations, specifically the Pentavalent 1 vaccine in this context.
ASHA workers: Accredited Social Health Activists, community health workers who play a key role in immunization programs.
Pentavalent 1 vaccine: A combination vaccine that protects against five diseases: Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type B.
Mission Indradhanush (MI): A special vaccination campaign to increase immunization coverage, with intensified versions (IMI) conducted in collaboration with states having high numbers of unvaccinated children.
National Immunization Days (NIDs): Special vaccination campaigns carried out every year, specifically mentioned in the context of the Pulse Polio program.
UWIN portal: A digital platform developed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the registration and recording of all vaccination events for children and pregnant women.
National Health Mission: A government initiative to address the health needs of under-served rural areas. ASHA workers are provided incentives as per its financial norms.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1129
TOBE ANSWERED ON25TH JULY2025
ZERO DOSEVACCINATION
1129: DR. K SUDHAKAR:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether there is any data on ‘Zero dose’ vaccinations in the country, if so, the details
thereof;
(b) whether it is a fact that social and religious stigma still exists that prevents certain
people from vaccination of their children if so, the details of steps taken/proposed to be
takenbythe Government to remove thisstigma;
(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure cent-percent
vaccinationof children inthe country;
(d) whether there are any proposals under consideration by the Government for increasing
the wagesof ASHAworkers inthe countryif so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether steps are taken by the Government to ensure that ASHA workers are equipped
and trained professionally and adequately compensated for ensuring that the problem of
Zerodose vaccination iseliminatedinour country, if so, the detailsthereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT.ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a) The number of Zero dose children/children who have not received Pentavalent 1 vaccine
dosesinthecountryhasdeclinedfrom16lakhsin2023to9.09lakhsin2024.
(b) To maximize vaccine coverage in the country, Information Education and Communication
(IEC) activities are implemented across the Nation. IEC dissemination is carried out through
service broadcasters such as Doordarshan using media celebrities, radio jingles and YouTubepodcasts. Social media platforms such as X handle, Instagram handle and Facebook page are
used. Localized community-level activities such as miking, posters and group meetings are also
organized.
(c) Government hastakenthe following measures incoordinationwith the States/UTs toensure
thatall eligible childrenare vaccinated.
i) Zero Dose Implementation Plan has been developed for 143 districts in 11 states to
address challengesrelated tounvaccinatedchildren.
ii) Mission Indradhanush (MI)/Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) are special
vaccination campaigns conducted in collaboration with States having high number of
unvaccinated children. Until 2023, Twelve phases of MI/IMI have been conducted where
5.46crore childrenand1.32crore pregnant women have beenvaccinated.
iii) National Immunization Days (NIDs) and Sub National Immunization Days (SNIDs) for
Pulse Polio program are special vaccination campaigns carried out every year. India is
maintainingPolio free status since 2014onwards.
iv) Hosting of Village Health and Nutrition Day (VHND) on designated days for
immunizationactivities.
v) State Task Force on Immunization (STFI), District Task Force on Immunization (DTFI)
and Block Task Force on Immunization (BTFI) ensures effective implementation of the
immunizationactivities.
vi) The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also developed the UWIN portal for the
registration andrecordingof all vaccinationeventsof childrenandpregnantwomen.
(d) & (e) Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) are trained every year on routine
immunization for carrying out seamless immunization service delivery. ASHAs are provided
with incentives asperNational HealthMission financial norms. ASHAincentivesfor routine and
recurring activities have been increased to ₹3500 per month from ₹2000 per month as per the
updatedrevision.
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