BABY IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE / VACCINATION CHART 2025-26

From birth to age 12, children are more vulnerable to diseases, viruses, and bacteria because their immune systems are still developing. At this tender age, their bodies may not be strong enough to fight off certain illnesses. Diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, and HPV still exist today and can spread easily from one person to another. In many parts of the world, vaccine-preventable diseases remain common, increasing the risk of children getting infected.

The best way to protect your child from these illnesses is by following a vaccination schedule. Vaccines help strengthen your child’s immunity, preventing them from catching certain diseases or suffering severe effects if exposed. Even if they come into contact with someone who is infected, vaccinated children are much less likely to experience serious complications.

Following a vaccination schedule ensures your child is protected at every stage of their development, laying a strong foundation for their long-term health.

What is a Vaccination Schedule?

A vaccination schedule (or immunisation schedule) is a simple plan that outlines when your child should receive vaccines to protect them from dangerous diseases that can cause serious health problems or even be life-threatening. It specifies which vaccines are needed, how many doses to take, and the right ages to receive them.

Doctors and health experts design these schedules based on the latest research to provide the best protection against illnesses. For example, some vaccines, like those for measles or polio, are given during early childhood, while others, such as flu shots, are recommended later.

The timing of vaccines depends on:

• When your child’s immune system can respond best to build strong protection.

• When your child is most at risk of catching certain diseases.

Children usually receive these vaccines during regular doctor visits. Following the childhood immunisation schedule helps ensure your child gets the necessary protection at the right time. It’s also important for parents to stay informed about which vaccines are needed and when to keep their children healthy and safe.

Why is Vaccinating Your Child Important?

• Vaccines Can Save Your Child’s Life:

Vaccines help protect your child from serious diseases that can cause long-term health issues or even death. For example, polio can lead to paralysis, hepatitis A can damage the liver, and tetanus can be life-threatening. Some diseases, like measles and tetanus, don’t have a cure. That’s why following the recommended vaccine immunisation schedule is the best way to keep your child safe from these dangerous diseases.

• Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Are Still Around:

Even though vaccines have made diseases less common in India, the germs that cause them are still around. If fewer people get vaccinated, these diseases could come back, like in other countries, leading to more hospitalisations and deaths. For example, polio is still found in Pakistan and Afghanistan, which are nearby countries. Travellers from these countries can bring the disease back to India and without vaccines, it could spread quickly.

• Vaccines Protect More Than Just Your Child:

When you vaccinate your child, you also help protect others around them. This is because when more people are vaccinated, it’s harder for diseases to spread. This protection is called "herd immunity." It helps protect vulnerable people, like babies, those undergoing medical treatments, and people with weak immune systems, from getting sick.

• Vaccines Are Safe and Effective:

Vaccines are very safe. They go through many tests to ensure they are both safe and effective before being approved by India. Even after approval, their safety continues to be monitored. Thanks to vaccines, diseases like polio and smallpox, which once killed many people in India, no longer exist.

By continuing to vaccinate, we can protect future generations and stop these diseases from becoming problems again.

• Vaccines Cost Less Than Treating the Disease:

Vaccines are much cheaper than treating a disease. If your child gets sick, it can lead to expensive paediatrician doctor visits, hospital stays, and medicine. Following your newborn’s immunisation schedule helps prevent these expenses by keeping them healthy. In the long run, vaccines save you money and protect you from the high costs of treating serious illnesses.

Age-Based Child Vaccination Schedule Chart

Here’s the updated immunisation schedule to help you keep track of your child’s vaccinations. This chart lists the recommended vaccines at each stage of your child’s growth. Following this schedule ensures your child gets the necessary protection against serious diseases on time.