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India Achieves Vaccination Milestones, Yet Millions Still Miss Shots
Sentiment: NeutralHigh Priority
What Happened?
India's vaccination drive has made significant progress, eliminating diseases like polio and smallpox. However, millions still miss essential vaccinations, raising concerns about coverage disparities.
Key points
- India's vaccination coverage increased from 62% in 2015 to 98.4% in January 2026.
- The Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) provides free vaccines against 12 preventable diseases.
- The Pulse Polio Programme, launched in 1995, significantly increased vaccination participation.
- Despite progress, 70% of newborns received the hepatitis B birth dose within 24 hours in 2025.
- The number of zero-dose children fell from 9.09 lakh in 2024 to 6.79 lakh in 2025.
Key insights
- The uneven vaccination coverage across states highlights systemic healthcare challenges.
- Addressing vaccine hesitancy and access issues is essential for improving immunization rates.
- The introduction of HPV vaccination for girls represents a significant step in cancer prevention.
Why it matters
Understanding vaccination gaps is crucial for improving public health and ensuring all children receive necessary immunizations.
Source
Times of India
