History of Vaccination in India

History of Vaccination in India

• The first smallpox vaccine was discovered in 1798, and the first doses arrived in India in May 1802.
• Three-year-old Anna Dusthall from Bombay received the first smallpox vaccine in India on June 14, 1802.
• The last documented case of smallpox in India was recorded in 1975, and the country was declared smallpox-free in 1977.
• The Compulsory Vaccination Act was passed in India in 1892.
• The Epidemic Act was passed in 1896 due to the plague epidemic in India.
• Haffkine developed the plague vaccine in 1897, considered the first vaccine developed in India.
• In 1970, the first indigenous oral polio vaccine was developed and manufactured in India.
• The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) was launched in 1978, which was renamed the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) in 1985 as its reach expanded.
• The UIP became part of the Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme in 1992 and was included in the National Reproductive and Child Health Programme in 1997.
• The National Rural Health Mission (2005) incorporated the UIP as an integral part.

Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)

• The UIP is one of India's largest public health programs, targeting 2.67 crore newborns and 2.9 crore pregnant women annually.
• The UIP provides free vaccinations against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases.
• Nationally, the UIP covers 9 diseases: diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, rubella, severe childhood tuberculosis, hepatitis B, and meningitis & pneumonia caused by Hemophilus Influenza type B.
• Sub-nationally, the program includes an additional 3 diseases: rotavirus diarrhea, pneumococcal pneumonia, and Japanese Encephalitis.
• Rotavirus and Pneumococcal Conjugate vaccines are being expanded, while the JE vaccine is only provided in endemic districts.

Explore the significant milestones in the history of vaccination in India, from the introduction of the smallpox vaccine in 1802 to the development of indigenous vaccines. Learn about important legislation, programs, and the country's efforts to eradicate diseases through vaccination. Discover how these historical events have shaped modern immunization practices in India.