National Vaccination Day: Why Should You Stick To Your Vaccination Schedule?

Vaccination is the key process for building resistance against any disease in the body through a vaccine. It stimulates the body's immune system to protect against subsequent infection or disease and prevent it from further growing or hampering the cells. Data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that immunisation saves millions of lives every year. Regardless, a major section of this society is still not aware of the importance of vaccination, therefore, Government of India observes March 16 as National Vaccination Day.

Another reason that it is observed is to annually commemorate the successful launch of the Pulse Polio Immunization Programme in India. It was in 1995 when the first dose of oral polio vaccination was administered in India on the same date. Since then, the day has been observed in honour of the government's Pulse Polio Programme, which managed to eradicate polio from the country. For those unaware, on March 27, 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) proclaimed India polio-free.

Significance Of This Day

This day is marked to acknowledge and appreciate the hard work of frontline healthcare workers and to ensure the vaccination of every child. The goal is to save individuals from vaccine-preventable diseases like Tuberculosis, chicken pox, flu, influenza, HPV and more. Besides this, National Vaccination Day also aims at:

• Addressing myths and misconceptions about various vaccines.
• Strengthening the government’s initiatives to irradicate vaccine-preventable diseases.
• Raising awareness among the unprivileged or remote sections of society about the government schemes and the importance of vaccines.
• And promoting commitment to timely vaccination.

Why Does Sticking To Vaccination Schedules Matter For All Age Groups?

Once a vaccine is administered, it becomes crucial to adhere to the recommended vaccination schedules. This not only ensures complete protection but also supports cost-effective child survival interventions. Vaccines are carefully designed for babies, children, and adults based on the body’s intake capacity at different stages of life. These schedules define specific time frames and the number of doses required for various vaccines, ensuring the development of an optimal protective shield against diseases. Moreover, vaccinations are also customised depending on individual health conditions.

According to the official National Immunization Schedule, babies who are just weeks or months old are given the following vaccines in specific doses:

• Vitamin A: 1 ml dose at 9 months, administered alongside the measles and rubella vaccine.
• DPT Booster-1: 0.5 ml dose between 16–24 months.
• Measles/MR 2nd Dose: 0.5 ml dose at 16–24 months.
• BCG, Hepatitis B1, OPV: Administered at birth, then again at 10 weeks, 14 weeks, 6 months, and 7 months.

As children grow older, they require additional boosters and vaccines. According to a report by the National Health Mission under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Government of India), the schedule includes:

-MMR: Administered in three doses at 9–12 months, 15–18 months, and 4–6 years.

-DPT: 2nd booster dose at 5 years.

-Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV): 6th dose at 15–18 months and 7th dose at 5 years.

-TT (Tetanus Toxoid): 3rd booster dose at 10 years.

-Hepatitis B: A booster dose at 10 years.

Essential Vaccines For Adults

Vaccination is not just for children. Adults also need specific immunizations to maintain health and prevent infections. These include:

- Influenza: An annual dose is recommended for individuals aged 19 to 26 years.

- Tdap or Td: One dose of Tdap during each pregnancy and a dose of Td/Tdap for wound management.

Newer Vaccines For Emerging Diseases

In recent years, several new vaccines have been developed to combat emerging diseases. One such example is Covishield, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was widely administered to fight against one of the deadliest viruses in recent history.