Do boond zindagi ki: India hits immunisation milestones, but why are millions still missing their shots?

NewsIndia NewsDo boond zindagi ki: India hits immunisation milestones, but why are millions still missing their shots? Do boond zindagi ki: India hits immunisation milestones, but why are millions still missing their shots?

Shivanghi Payal / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Nov 10, 2026, 16:32 IST India's vaccination drive gains ground, but millions still miss their shots. NEW DELHI: What began with do boond zindagi ki has grown into one of the world's largest vaccination drives.

Now, smallpox is history, polio has been eliminated, and maternal and neonatal tetanus are no longer public health threats in India.That's quite a flex!India's vaccination story is one of ambitious campaigns, millions of doses and some remarkable public health victories.

The country was declared polio-free in 2014. A year later, it eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus as a public health problem. Then, during the Covid-19 pandemic, it administered over 200 crore vaccine doses, including indigenously developed and licensed vaccines manufactured in India.And the drive is far from over.

How vaccination has reduced mortality rate over the years (Credit: PIB) Vaccination is not a one-and-done exercise. Some shots are given at birth, others follow at carefully spaced intervals, and a few need boosters to keep protection going.

But what exactly do these jabs do?A vaccine essentially prepares the immune system for an encounter with a disease-causing germ. It teaches the body to recognise the threat and respond faster if it comes into contact with it later.

This reduces the risk of infection and, in many cases, prevents severe illness.In India, this protection begins at birth. Newborns receive vaccines against tuberculosis (BCG), polio and hepatitis B. The hepatitis B birth dose is particularly time-sensitive and should ideally be administered within the first 24 hours.The next round begins when the baby is six weeks old, with follow-up doses at ten and fourteen weeks.

These vaccines protect against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B, polio, rotavirus diarrhoea and infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib).Pneumococcal vaccines are also included in the schedule to protect infants against serious infections, including certain types of pneumonia and meningitis.The vaccination calendar does not stop once babies become toddlers.

Between nine and 12 months, children receive their first measles-rubella dose, followed by a second at 16-24 months. Japanese encephalitis vaccines are also offered in endemic districts.As children get older, booster doses become part of the routine.

DPT boosters are given during early childhood, followed by tetanus-diphtheria (Td) shots at the ages of ten and 16 to maintain protection.The schedule is also expanding beyond childhood infections, with cancer prevention entering the picture.On February 28, 2026, the government launched a nationwide human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, offering a free, voluntary, single-dose vaccine to around 1.2 crore girls aged 14.

The campaign aims to protect them against HPV infections that can lead to cervical cancer.<div data-pos="0" class="id-r-component iIpbx undefined The rollout has gathered pace, too. By September 11, more than 80 lakh doses had been administered, with Uttar Pradesh accounting for the highest number at over 22 lakh.From a newborn&#x27;s first vaccines to an adolescent&#x27;s HPV shot, India&#x27;s immunisation schedule covers several stages of life.

But having vaccines on the calendar is only half the job. Ensuring that every eligible beneficiary receives the right dose at the right time remains the bigger challenge.Spot the missing shots The latest WHO-UNICEF estimates for 2025 suggest that India is making steady progress in getting more children vaccinated.

Around 97% received the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine, while 95% completed all three doses. Measles vaccination coverage was equally encouraging, with 98% of children receiving the first dose and 95% getting the second.There is another milestone worth celebrating.

The number of zero-dose children, those who have not received even the first dose of a DTP-containing vaccine, fell from around 9.09 lakh in 2024 to 6.79 lakh in 2025. That&#x27;s a decline of nearly 25% in just one year.India also achieved a significant first.

For the first time since WHO-UNICEF estimates began in 2001, it dropped out of the world&#x27;s top ten countries with the highest number of children missing measles vaccination.In this case, slipping down the rankings is actually good news!However, the progress is not uniform.

WHO&#x27;s 2025 estimates show that only 70% of newborns received the hepatitis B birth dose within 24 hours, while rotavirus vaccine coverage stood at 91%.<div data-pos="0" class="id-r-component iIpbx undefined India has made steady progress towards universal immunisation, with full vaccination coverage among children aged 12-23 months rising from 83.8% to 87.1%, according to vaccination card records.The household survey also brings out a gap that national averages can easily mask: differences between states.

Full vaccination coverage among children aged 12-23 months ranged from 93.8% in Goa to just 64.3% in Nagaland, a gap of nearly 30 percentage points.The divide is visible in hepatitis B vaccination, too. While 91.9% of newborns in Goa received the birth dose, the figure was only 46.4% in Nagaland.In other words, India&#x27;s vaccination report card may be improving, but the marks are far from evenly distributed.

Where a child is born can still make a significant difference to the protection they receive.Free shots, but gaps remain: Where the system falling short So, if childhood vaccines are free, why are so many children still missing their shots?The answer lies in barriers that go beyond the availability of vaccines.

From caregiver hesitation to migration and poor access to healthcare, several factors can leave...