Vaccination schedule for children in India 2026: complete guide for parents

The complete vaccination schedule for children India 2026 covers every immunization from birth through 12 years including both the government's Universal Immunization Program (UIP) vaccines given free at government hospitals and the additional vaccines recommended by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP). This guide gives you the full age-wise schedule, explains what each vaccine prevents, and tells you exactly what to do if your child has missed a dose.

Track your child's vaccines and never miss a due date: Best app to store family medical records in India 2026

What you'll learn:

• Complete age-wise IAP vaccination schedule for 2026

• Which vaccines are free at government hospitals vs paid

• What each vaccine protects your child against

• What to do if your child has missed a vaccine

• How to track and store vaccination records digitally

Complete vaccination schedule for children in India 2026 

This table reflects the IAP immunization schedule India 2026 as recommended by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics. Government (UIP) vaccines are provided free at government hospitals and health centres:

Age	Vaccine	Disease prevented	Free (Govt) or Paid	Notes for parents
At birth	BCG	Tuberculosis	Free (Govt)	Given within 24 hours of birth
At birth	OPV-0	Polio	Free (Govt)	First dose within 24 hours of birth
At birth	Hepatitis B (Birth dose)	Hepatitis B	Free (Govt)	Within 24 hours — critical for birth dose timing
6 weeks	DTwP/DTaP-1	Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping cough	DTwP free; DTaP paid (₹300–500)	DTaP has fewer side effects; discuss with paediatrician
6 weeks	IPV-1	Polio	Free (Govt)	Injectable form alongside OPV
6 weeks	Hib-1	Haemophilus influenzae type b	Paid (₹400–600)	Often in combination DTPwP-Hib-HepB vaccine
6 weeks	Hepatitis B-1	Hepatitis B	Free (Govt)	Part of Pentavalent vaccine in Govt schedule
6 weeks	Rotavirus-1	Rotavirus diarrhoea	Free at select Govt centres; ₹700–1,200 private	Major cause of severe diarrhoea in infants
6 weeks	PCV-1	Pneumococcal disease	Free at select centres; ₹3,000–3,500 private	Protects against pneumonia and meningitis
10 weeks	DTwP/DTaP-2 + IPV-2 + Hib-2 + HepB-2	As above (2nd dose)	As above	Maintain 4-week interval from dose 1
10 weeks	Rotavirus-2	Rotavirus diarrhoea	As above	Must complete within age window
14 weeks	DTwP/DTaP-3 + IPV-3 + Hib-3 + HepB-3	As above (3rd dose)	As above	Complete primary series by 14 weeks
14 weeks	PCV-3	Pneumococcal disease	As above	Third dose completes primary PCV series
6 months	OPV-1	Polio	Free (Govt)	Oral polio drops
6 months	Influenza (optional)	Seasonal flu	Paid (₹700–1,000/year)	Annual dose recommended; especially for at-risk children
9 months	MMR-1	Measles, Mumps, Rubella	Free (Govt)	Do not give before 9 months
9 months	OPV-2	Polio	Free (Govt)
12 months	Hepatitis A-1	Hepatitis A	Paid (₹1,200–1,500)	Two doses 6 months apart
12 months	Varicella-1	Chickenpox	Paid (₹1,800–2,500)	Two doses recommended by IAP
15 months	MMR-2 / MMRV	Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella	MMR free; MMRV paid	Booster dose
15–18 months	DTwP/DTaP booster + IPV booster + Hib booster	Booster doses	As primary series	Critical booster — do not skip
15–18 months	PCV booster	Pneumococcal disease	As above	Final PCV dose
18 months	Hepatitis A-2	Hepatitis A	Paid	Complete 6 months after first dose
2 years	Typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV)	Typhoid fever	Paid (₹800–1,200)	Single dose; boosted at age 5
4–6 years	DTwP/DTaP booster-2	Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis	Free (Govt)	Pre-school booster
4–6 years	OPV booster	Polio	Free (Govt)
4–6 years	Varicella-2 (if not given at 15 months)	Chickenpox	Paid	Second dose
10–12 years	Tdap / Td	Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis	Paid (₹400–600)	Adolescent booster
10–12 years	HPV (girls and boys)	Cervical cancer, HPV-related cancers	Paid (₹2,500–3,500/dose)	2 doses 6 months apart; IAP now recommends for all genders

Government (free) vs paid vaccines: what you need to know

The government vaccination schedule India (UIP) covers the most critical vaccines free of cost at government hospitals, CGHS centres, and urban health centres. However, the IAP immunization schedule India 2026 recommends additional vaccines particularly PCV, Rotavirus, Varicella, Hepatitis A, and HPV that are not yet universally free but are strongly recommended by paediatricians.

The additional paid vaccines cost between ₹700 and ₹3,500 per dose. For most families, the total cost of completing the full IAP schedule is approximately ₹15,000–₹25,000 over 12 years a significant but worthwhile investment given the diseases prevented.

What to do if your child has missed a vaccine

Missing a dose in the vaccination schedule for children India 2026 does not mean starting over. Pediatricians follow a 'catch-up' schedule:

• Consult your pediatrician immediately do not wait for the next scheduled visit

• Most vaccines can be given up to a certain age window your doctor will confirm what is still applicable

• The catch-up schedule varies by vaccine: some can be given at any age, others have upper age limits

• For polio specifically: pulse polio drops given at national immunization days count as additional doses

• Never skip a vaccine permanently just because a dose was missed the benefit of partial immunization is still significant

In simple terms:

India's vaccination schedule for children has two layers: the government's free UIP vaccines (covering the most critical diseases) and the IAP's additional recommended vaccines (paid but strongly advised). Missing a dose is not a crisis — but it must be caught up promptly. Your pediatrician's advice takes priority over any online schedule.

Common vaccine side effects and what is normal

Normal reactions (no cause for concern)

• Mild fever (up to 38.5°C) for 1–2 days after DTP, MMR, or PCV

• Redness, swelling, or tenderness at the injection site for 24–48 hours

• Irritability and reduced feeding for 1–2 days

• A small lump at the BCG injection site this is expected and normal

When to call a doctor immediately

• Fever above 39°C or fever lasting more than 3 days

• Persistent crying for more than 3 hours after vaccination

• Seizures or convulsions

• Difficulty breathing, facial swelling, or hives these indicate a possible allergic reaction and require emergency care

How to track your child's vaccination records

The most common reason children miss vaccines is that parents lose track of what was given and what is due. A child vaccine tracker India app like Seht solves this completely:

• Create a profile for your child in the Seht app and enter their date of birth

• Upload the vaccination certificate from your hospital or government health centre Seht auto-reads the vaccine names and dates

• Seht generates the complete due vaccine schedule based on your child's age and vaccines already received

• Set reminders 1 week before each due date so you never scramble at the last minute

• Share the vaccination record digitally with school admissions, camp registrations, or travel health requirements

When to see a doctor

See your pediatrician immediately if:

• Your child has an allergic reaction to a vaccine hives, facial swelling, or breathing difficulty within 30 minutes of injection

• Your child has a fever above 39°C that does not respond to paracetamol within 24 hours post-vaccination

• Your child has a seizure following any vaccination

• You are unsure whether a previous vaccine was genuine some private clinics have been known to administer expired or improperly stored vaccines

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FAQs

What vaccines are free for children in India?

The government vaccination schedule India (UIP) provides BCG, OPV, Hepatitis B, DTP, IPV, MMR, and Vitamin A free at all government hospitals and health centres. Rotavirus, PCV, and Hepatitis A vaccines are free at select government facilities in states that have introduced them in the state schedule.

What is the IAP vaccination schedule for 2026?

The IAP immunization schedule India 2026 is the comprehensive schedule published by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, including both government UIP vaccines and additional recommended vaccines like PCV, Rotavirus, Varicella, Hepatitis A, Typhoid conjugate, and HPV. The full schedule runs from birth through 15 years.

What happens if my child misses a vaccine?

Missing a dose in the vaccination schedule for children India 2026 requires a catch-up consultation with your pediatrician. Most vaccines can be given on a delayed schedule. Do not skip a vaccine permanently even late vaccination provides significant protection against serious diseases.

Are paid vaccines necessary if government vaccines are free?

The government UIP covers essential vaccines but not all childhood vaccines India age-wise recommended by pediatricians. PCV (pneumonia protection), Rotavirus (prevents severe diarrhea), Varicella (chickenpox), and HPV (cervical cancer prevention) are strongly recommended by the IAP and worth the additional cost for families who can afford them.

How do I keep track of my child's vaccination records?

Use the Seht app as your child vaccine tracker India. Upload your child's vaccination certificate, and Seht generates a complete due-date schedule with reminders. The digital record is accessible instantly for school admissions, travel, or doctor visits far more reliable than a paper booklet.

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Download Seht — free on iOS and Android

Never miss a vaccination date again. Seht is the most complete child vaccine tracker India free for all family members on iOS and Android.

Download:

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Sources and references

• Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) — Immunization Schedule 2026 — iapindia.org

• Universal Immunization Program — Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India — mohfw.gov.in

• World Health Organization — Immunization schedules — who.int

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Seht helps families stay informed, but is not a substitute for professional healthcare guidance.