Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)

Why in news?

Though, India’s full immunization coverage increased in 2024–25, still there is a need to closely link high-quality and sensitive disease surveillance with immunization efforts.

• Vaccination is one of the most effective and cost-efficient public health measures, saving millions of lives.
• UIP is one of the largest public health programmes in the world.
• Aim - To provide life-saving vaccines to millions of newborns and pregnant women each year.
• Evolution - Initially launched in 1978 as the Expanded Programme on Immunization, it was rebranded as the UIP in 1985 when its coverage was extended beyond urban centers to rural areas.
• Objectives –
  • To rapidly increase immunization coverage;
  • To improve the quality of services;
  • To establish a reliable cold chain system to the health facility level;
  • To achieve self-sufficiency in vaccine production.
• Nodal Ministry – Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
• Features - Immunization is being provided free of cost against 12 vaccine preventable diseases: 11 vaccines nationwide and one vaccine in endemic areas.

Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella, severe Childhood Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Rotavirus Diarrhea, Pneumococcal Pneumonia and Japanese Encephalitis (JE).

• Annual Target -  Around 2.67 crore newborns and 2.9 crore pregnant women.
• Beneficiaries – Pregnant women and children from all sections of the society across the country with the same quality vaccines.
• Major Outcomes -

• Decline in under-5 mortality - From 45 to 31 per 1,000 live births between 2014 and 2021, according to the Sample Registration System 2021.
• Polio-free status – Maintained since 2011 through continued stringent surveillance.
• Maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination  - achieved in 2015 and was
• Yaws-free – Declared in 2016.
• COVID-19 vaccination programme - Launched 2021, by January 2023, covering 97% of citizens with one dose and 90% with both doses, marking a great achievement in public health on the global stage.
• India is now the world’s largest vaccine manufacturing hub.
• Measles and Rubella Champion Award - On March 6, 2024, India received the award from the Measles and Rubella Partnership, honoring its efforts in the South-East Asia Region.

Quick Facts

References

1. The Hindu | UIP
2. National Health Mission | UIP