Cradle to AbleIn India, a baby's first vaccines start on the day they are born and carry on through the first two years. Government health centres give the main vaccines free, and Indian paediatricians advise a few extras that you pay for. This guide lists both, with the age each one is due.
The short answer
- At birth: BCG, hepatitis B and OPV 0.
- 6, 10 and 14 weeks: polio, pentavalent and rotavirus (and fIPV and PCV at 6 and 14 weeks).
- 9 months: measles-rubella, Vitamin A and the PCV booster (and JE where it is common).
- 16 to 24 months: boosters for DPT, polio and measles-rubella.
Free vaccines at government centres
These come from India's Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). Ages are counted from your baby's date of birth.
| When | Vaccines |
|---|---|
| At birth | BCG (TB) Hepatitis B, birth dose (within 24 hours) OPV 0, polio drops (within 15 days) |
| 6 weeks | OPV 1 (polio drops) Pentavalent 1 (diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B, Hib) Rotavirus 1 (diarrhoea, oral drops) fIPV 1 (polio injection, small dose) PCV 1 (pneumonia) |
| 10 weeks | OPV 2 Pentavalent 2 Rotavirus 2 |
| 14 weeks | OPV 3 Pentavalent 3 Rotavirus 3 fIPV 2 PCV 2 |
| 9 months | Measles-Rubella (MR) 1 Vitamin A, 1st dose PCV booster JE (Japanese encephalitis) 1, only in districts where JE is common |
| 16 to 24 months | DPT booster 1 OPV booster Measles-Rubella (MR) 2 JE 2, only in districts where JE is common Vitamin A, 2nd dose (16 to 18 months; then every 6 months up to 5 years) |
At 5 to 6 years: DPT booster 2. At 10 and 16 years: Td.
What each vaccine protects against
- BCG: tuberculosis (TB), especially the serious forms in young children.
- Hepatitis B: a liver infection that can become long-term when caught in infancy.
- OPV and fIPV: polio.
- Pentavalent: five diseases in one injection: diphtheria, whooping cough (pertussis), tetanus, hepatitis B and Hib (a germ that causes serious infections such as meningitis and pneumonia).
- Rotavirus: severe diarrhoea in babies.
- PCV: pneumococcal disease, such as pneumonia and meningitis.
- Measles-Rubella (MR): measles and rubella.
- JE: Japanese encephalitis (brain fever), given only in districts where it is common.
- DPT booster: diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus, to keep protection going.
- Vitamin A: not a vaccine. It is given with the vaccines to prevent vitamin A deficiency.
Extra vaccines advised by the IAP
The Indian Academy of Pediatrics recommends these in addition to the free schedule. They are usually given by private paediatricians for a fee.
| When | Vaccines |
|---|---|
| 6 months | Influenza (flu): a yearly shot |
| 6 to 9 months | Typhoid conjugate vaccine |
| 9 months | MMR 1 (some doctors give this instead of the free MR) |
| 12 months | Hepatitis A, dose 1 |
| 15 months | MMR 2 Varicella (chickenpox) 1 |
| 18 to 19 months | Hepatitis A, dose 2 (inactivated vaccine) Varicella 2 |
Your paediatrician may also offer combination vaccines or a full-dose polio injection instead of the free vaccines. Ask which schedule they follow and why.
If a dose is missed
Do not panic and do not skip it. Ask your paediatrician or health worker when to give the missed dose. Many can be given late. In the national schedule, BCG, pentavalent and rotavirus can be given up to 1 year, and measles-rubella up to 5 years.
Before you go
- Carry the MCP card or vaccination card and your baby's birth details.
- Ask what to expect after the vaccine and when to call the doctor.
- Ask when the next dose is due, and write the date on the card.
Frequently asked questions
When is my baby's first vaccine due?
At birth. In India's national schedule, a newborn gets BCG, the hepatitis B birth dose (within 24 hours) and OPV 0, the first polio drops (within 15 days). Most hospitals give these before you go home.
Which baby vaccines are free in India?
The vaccines in the Universal Immunisation Programme are free at government health facilities. For infants these are BCG, hepatitis B, OPV, pentavalent, rotavirus, fIPV, PCV, measles-rubella (MR) and, in districts where Japanese encephalitis is common, JE, plus Vitamin A.
What are the extra vaccines my paediatrician talks about?
The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) advises some vaccines that are not part of the free programme, such as flu, typhoid conjugate, hepatitis A, varicella (chickenpox) and MMR. Private clinics usually charge for these. Private doctors may also use combination vaccines in place of the free ones.
What if my baby misses a vaccine date?
Do not wait for the next date. Ask your paediatrician or health worker when to give the missed dose. Many doses can be given late. In the national schedule, BCG, pentavalent and rotavirus can be given up to 1 year, and the measles-rubella vaccine up to 5 years.
Where do I get the free vaccines?
At government hospitals, primary health centres, sub-centres and anganwadi immunisation sessions. Carry your Mother and Child Protection (MCP) card or vaccination card so each dose can be recorded.
Why do the dates differ between my doctor and this guide?
Doctors count from your baby's date of birth and may use combination vaccines or the IAP schedule, and state programmes sometimes vary. Follow your paediatrician's dates and your card. Our dates are a guide.
Sources
National Health Mission (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) immunisation schedule; the Press Information Bureau factsheet on vaccines of 17 March 2026; and the IAP Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Immunization Practices schedule 2023 (Indian Pediatrics, February 2024). The IAP published a 2025 edition in April 2026 that we have not reviewed, and parts of the national schedule, such as where PCV and JE are given, can vary by state and centre. So always follow your paediatrician and your MCP card.
See also: hospital bag checklist, newborn hygiene and visitors and hiring a nanny or japa.