India's Universal Immunization Programme covers over 27 million newborns every year and yet, according to NFHS-5 data, only 76.4% of children aged 12–23 months received all basic vaccinations. Missing even one dose can leave a child vulnerable to diseases that are entirely preventable.
This blog gives parents, caregivers, and families in Gurugram and across India a complete, month-wise baby vaccination chart based on the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) 2024–2026 guidelines covering every vaccine from birth through the first two years, with detailed notes on BCG, PCV, the 5-in-1 vaccine, and what to do if a dose is missed.
Why is Baby Vaccination Important?
The first two years of a child's life are a window of both extraordinary development and extraordinary vulnerability. An infant's immune system is immature, capable of responding to pathogens, but not yet primed against the most dangerous ones.
Vaccination works by introducing a controlled, safe version of a pathogen (or its proteins) that trains the immune system to recognise and neutralise the real threat before the child ever encounters it.
Vaccination is not just individual protection. When enough children in a community are vaccinated, the pathogen has no susceptible hosts and cannot spread; this is herd immunity, and it protects immunocompromised children, newborns too young to be vaccinated, and elderly grandparents who share the home.
According to the Government of India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, timely immunisation under the UIP has contributed to a measurable reduction in child mortality over the past two decades. Every year, vaccines globally prevent an estimated 3.5–5 million deaths.
Understanding the Two Vaccination Frameworks: UIP and IAP
Parents in India encounter two overlapping vaccination frameworks, and understanding the difference helps avoid confusion:
Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) — Government Schedule
The UIP is administered free of charge at government health centres (PHCs, CHCs, Anganwadis). It covers 12 vaccine-preventable diseases: BCG, OPV, Hepatitis B, DPT, Hib (as Pentavalent vaccine), IPV, MMR, Rotavirus, PCV, Td, and JE (in endemic districts). Vaccines are available at any government health facility, including during outreach sessions.
IAP Recommended Schedule: Private Clinics and Hospitals
The Indian Academy of Pediatrics, through its Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Immunization Practices (ACVIP), publishes an updated schedule annually that includes additional vaccines not yet in the UIP, such as Varicella, Hepatitis A, Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV), meningococcal vaccine, and HPV. These vaccines are available at private hospitals and paediatric clinics, typically at an out-of-pocket cost of ₹500–₹3,500 per dose depending on the vaccine. The comprehensive baby vaccination chart below follows the IAP 2024–2026 recommendations.
Complete Baby Vaccination Chart: Month-Wise Schedule (Birth to 2 Years)
The following vaccination chart for babies in India is based on the IAP ACVIP 2024–2026 guidelines and is the most comprehensive baby vaccine schedule followed across private hospitals and paediatric clinics in India, including Artemis Hospitals, Gurugram. Vaccines marked (Free/UIP) are available at no cost at government facilities. All others are available at private centres.
Age | Vaccines Due | Key Notes |
At Birth | BCG | Hepatitis B — Dose 1 | OPV — Dose 0 (Birth dose) | All three were given within 24–72 hours of birth. BCG given only once (at birth). Hepatitis B birth dose must be given within 24 hours. |
6 Weeks (1.5 months) | DTwP / DTaP — Dose 1 | IPV — Dose 1 | Hib — Dose 1 | Hepatitis B — Dose 2 | Rotavirus — Dose 1 | PCV 13 — Dose 1 | First multi-vaccine visit. DTwP (painful) or DTaP (painless) — both protect against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus. PCV protects against pneumococcal disease (pneumonia, meningitis). |
10 Weeks (2.5 months) | DTwP / DTaP — Dose 2 | IPV — Dose 2 | Hib — Dose 2 | Rotavirus — Dose 2 | PCV 13 — Dose 2 | Continuation of primary series. Hepatitis B dose 3 may be given here if birth dose was given. The Rotavirus series follows 4-week minimum intervals. |
14 Weeks (3.5 months) | DTwP / DTaP — Dose 3 | IPV — Dose 3 | Hib — Dose 3 | Rotavirus — Dose 3 | PCV 13 — Dose 3 | Hepatitis B — Dose 3 (if not given at 10 weeks) | Completion of primary series for DTwP/DTaP, IPV, Hib, Rotavirus, and PCV. After this visit, primary immunisation against 7 diseases is complete. |
6 Months | OPV — Dose 1 | Hepatitis B — Dose 3 (if not already given) | Influenza — Dose 1 (2 doses, 4 weeks apart) | First influenza vaccine recommended at 6 months; two doses given 4 weeks apart in Year 1, then annual single dose. OPV continues the polio protection series. |
7 Months | Influenza — Dose 2 (if Year 1) | Second influenza dose, 4 weeks after first dose. Applies only in the first year of influenza vaccination. |
9 Months | MMR — Dose 1 | OPV — Dose 2 | Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) — Dose 1 | MMR protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. TCV (typhoid conjugate) recommended by IAP given the high burden of typhoid in India. Measles is still circulating in India — do not delay MMR. |
12 Months (1 Year) | Hepatitis A — Dose 1 | Varicella (Chickenpox) — Dose 1 | PCV 13 — Booster | MMR — Dose 2 (can also be given 12–15 months) | Influenza — Annual booster | Hepatitis A: two doses 6 months apart. Varicella: two doses (12–15 months and 4–6 years). PCV booster completes the pneumococcal series. The annual influenza booster continues from here. |
15 Months | MMR — Dose 2 (if not given at 12 months) | Varicella — Dose 1 (if not given at 12 months) | Latest recommended timing for MMR Dose 2 and Varicella Dose 1 in the first year. Giving MMR on time prevents measles outbreaks. |
18 Months (1.5 Years) | DTwP / DTaP — Booster 1 | IPV — Booster 1 | Hib — Booster | Hepatitis A — Dose 2 | MMR — Dose 2 (if not given at 12–15 months) | First DPT and IPV boosters reinforce waning immunity from the primary series. Hib booster completes meningitis protection. Hepatitis A Dose 2 given 6 months after Dose 1. |
24 Months (2 Years) | Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) — Booster | Varicella — Dose 2 (if 2nd dose not yet given) | Hepatitis A — Dose 2 (if not given at 18 months) | TCV booster reinforces typhoid protection. Varicella Dose 2 ensures durable chickenpox immunity. This visit completes the major scheduled vaccination milestones of infancy. |
Protect your baby with timely vaccinations and expert pediatric care.
Consult our child specialists in Gurgaon for a complete infant immunization schedule.
Practical Guidance: Before, During, and After Baby Vaccination
Before the Vaccination Visit
- Carry the baby's vaccination record (the passbook or hospital-issued immunisation card) to every visit
- Inform the doctor if your baby has had a fever, illness, or allergic reaction in the 2 weeks prior
- Breastfeed before the appointment if possible breastfeeding during or after vaccination has been shown to reduce pain response
- For older infants, consider asking the doctor about EMLA cream (a topical anaesthetic) applied 45–60 minutes before the injection to reduce pain at the site
After the Vaccination
- A mild fever (up to 38.5°C) and injection-site redness or swelling in the 24–48 hours after DTwP are normal and do not require treatment beyond paracetamol drops if the baby is uncomfortable
- A small, tender lump at the injection site after BCG is normal and may persist for weeks do not apply pressure or squeeze it
- Continue breastfeeding as normal it provides additional immune support and comfort
- If fever exceeds 39°C, lasts more than 48 hours, or the baby is unusually drowsy, inconsolable, or develops a rash, contact your paediatrician
- Avoid bathing the vaccination site for 24 hours; light sponging is fine
What Happens If a Baby Misses a Vaccination Dose?
Missing a vaccine dose does not mean starting the entire series over — this is a common misconception that causes unnecessary anxiety and, worse, unnecessary delay in recommencing vaccination. Each dose can be given at the next available opportunity according to the minimum interval guidelines, and the series continues from where it left off. Paediatricians refer to this as a 'catch-up' schedule.
The key rule: it is never too late to vaccinate. A child who missed the 6-week appointment can still receive DTwP, IPV, Hib, PCV, and Rotavirus — though Rotavirus has an upper age limit (no later than 32 weeks for the last dose for Rotarix; 32 weeks for the last dose of RotaTeq). Consult your paediatrician for a personalised catch-up plan rather than simply waiting for the next scheduled date.
Baby Vaccination at Artemis Hospitals, Gurugram: Complete Paediatric Immunisation Care
At Artemis Hospitals in Gurugram, the paediatric department offers a structured, comprehensive vaccination programme for infants and children from birth through adolescence aligned with the latest IAP ACVIP 2024-2026 recommendations.
What parents can expect at Artemis Hospitals' child vaccination service:
- Month-wise vaccination plans prepared by experienced paediatricians personalised to your child's birth date, health history, and any missed doses that need catch-up
- Complete availability of all IAP-recommended vaccines, including both government-schedule vaccines (BCG, DPT, IPV, OPV, Hepatitis B, PCV, Rotavirus, MMR) and additional IAP-recommended vaccines (Varicella, Hepatitis A, TCV, Influenza, HPV)
- Choice of painless (DTaP, acellular pertussis) and conventional (DTwP) vaccines, with guidance from the paediatric team on the right option for your child
- Cold chain maintenance and vaccine storage standards aligned with WHO and government protocols
- Post-vaccination monitoring in the clinic for 20–30 minutes standard practice for infants receiving multiple simultaneous vaccines
- Vaccination record card maintenance and reminders for upcoming doses
- Available as both clinic-based appointments and, where applicable, structured home visit arrangements through Artemis' outreach services
Article by Dr. Nidhi Rajotia
Unit Head - Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Artemis Hospitals
