As India marks 25 years of the Pulse Polio programme, the Government is set to launch the second phase of its nationwide immunization drive, the Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0. This ambitious project aims to achieve a pan-India immunization coverage of at least 90% by 2022.
The Background of Immunization in India
Immunization programmes in India have come a long way since they were first introduced in 1978 as the ‘Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI)’. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched this initiative, which was later modified in 1985 and renamed the ‘Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)’.
The UIP sought to rapidly increase immunization coverage and improve the quality of services. It also aimed at establishing a reliable cold chain system up to the health facility level. A district-wise system for monitoring performance was introduced, along with a push for self-sufficiency in vaccine production.
The UIP was designed to prevent mortality and morbidity in children and pregnant women against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases. However, it was observed that the increase in immunization coverage had slowed down between 2009 and 2013, rising at a rate of just 1% per year.
Mission Indradhanush: A New Beginning
To accelerate the coverage, Mission Indradhanush was envisaged and implemented from 2015. This mission aimed to fully immunize more than 89 lakh children who were either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated under UIP, targeting children under 2 years of age and pregnant women.
Provided were vaccinations against 12 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPD), including diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, meningitis and pneumonia, Hemophilus influenza type B infections, Japanese encephalitis (JE), rotavirus vaccine, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), and measles-rubella (MR).
| Vaccine | Disease Prevented |
|---|---|
| Diphtheria vaccine | Diphtheria |
| Whooping cough vaccine | Whooping cough |
| Tetanus vaccine | Tetanus |
| Polio vaccine | Polio |
| Tuberculosis vaccine | Tuberculosis |
Intensified Mission Indradhanush: A Step Further
In 2017, the Government of India launched the Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) to reach every child under two years of age and all those pregnant women who fell through the cracks of the routine immunization program.
Pulse Polio Immunization Programme: A Milestone in Disease Eradication
As a part of the global initiative to eradicate polio following the World Health Assembly resolution in 1988, India launched the Pulse Polio Immunization programme in the financial year 1994-95. The programme aimed at achieving hundred percent coverage under Oral Polio Vaccine for children in the age group of 0-5 years.
India’s commitment to this cause saw the country being removed from the list of countries with active endemic wild poliovirus transmission in 2012 by WHO, and being declared Polio-free in 2014. As a risk mitigation measure, Inactivated Polio Vaccine has also been introduced across all states in the country.
The Road Ahead with Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0
The Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0 is set to target districts with immunization coverage of 70% or below, indicating a move towards a more inclusive and encompassing approach to immunization. This reinforces India’s commitment to vaccinating its population, one district at a time. Despite the challenges, the future holds promise for a healthier India.