Right after your baby is born, you’ll be given a small card with a long list of vaccine names and dates. It’s a lot to take in, and it doesn’t help that relatives, online groups, and even different doctors sometimes say different things. This guide gives you one simple vaccination schedule for babies in India, from birth to 16 years, so you have one place to check before every visit.
This schedule is the same one followed by doctors at Rungta Hospital, and it matches what most private pediatricians in India use.
Every vaccine on this list is given at a specific age for a reason. Too early, and it may not work well, the baby still has some protection left over from the mother. Too late, and there’s a gap where the child isn’t protected but is old enough to catch the disease. So the timing isn’t random. It’s set to match exactly when your baby’s body is ready, and exactly when they need it most.
Vaccines don’t just protect your own child. They also protect the people around them — younger siblings, grandparents, and other kids at school who may get sicker from these diseases.
This confuses a lot of parents, so let’s keep it simple.
India has two schedules that work together:
Most private doctors in India, including our team at Rungta Hospital’s Pediatrics department, follow the IAP schedule because it protects against more diseases. If money is tight, the free government vaccines still cover the most serious diseases, polio, TB, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, and measles, so no child should miss those. Talk to your doctor about whether the extra IAP vaccines make sense for your family.
One small thing worth knowing : government centers usually give DTwP (an older whooping cough vaccine), while private clinics often give DTaP (a newer version). Both work well. DTaP usually causes milder fever and soreness. Neither one is wrong, just ask your doctor which one they’re giving and why.
| Age | Vaccines Due | Protects Against |
| At birth | BCG, Hepatitis B (1st dose), OPV (birth dose) | TB, Hepatitis B, Polio |
| 6 weeks | DPT/Pentavalent (1st), OPV (1st), IPV (1st), Rotavirus (1st), PCV (1st) | Diphtheria, Whooping cough, Tetanus, Hib, Polio, Rotavirus diarrhea, Pneumonia |
| 10 weeks | DPT/Pentavalent (2nd), OPV (2nd), Rotavirus (2nd), PCV (2nd) | Same diseases, 2nd dose |
| 14 weeks | DPT/Pentavalent (3rd), OPV (3rd), IPV (2nd), Rotavirus (3rd), PCV (3rd) | Same diseases, 3rd dose |
| 6 months | Hepatitis B (3rd dose), Flu shot (1st, yearly) | Hepatitis B, Flu |
| 9–12 months | Measles/MMR (1st dose), Typhoid vaccine | Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Typhoid |
| 15–18 months | MMR (2nd dose), DPT booster (1st), OPV booster, Chickenpox (1st), PCV booster | Same diseases plus Chickenpox |
| 2 years | Typhoid booster, Hepatitis A | Typhoid, Hepatitis A |
| 4–6 years | DPT booster (2nd), OPV booster, Chickenpox (2nd, if not given earlier) | Diphtheria, Whooping cough, Tetanus, Polio, Chickenpox |
| 10–12 years | Tdap/Td booster, HPV vaccine (for both girls and boys) | Tetanus, Diphtheria, Whooping cough, HPV-related cancers |
| 16 years | Td booster | Tetanus, Diphtheria |
If your baby was born early or small, this chart may need to be adjusted a bit. Most doctors still vaccinate based on the baby’s actual age since birth, not their due date, but this is a decision best made together with a doctor who knows your baby’s health history, not just by following a general chart.
Our Neonatology team at Rungta Hospital works closely with parents of premature and NICU babies to plan vaccines the right way for each child.
Most children have mild, short-lived reactions after vaccination: a low-grade fever for a day or two, redness or slight swelling at the injection site, and general fussiness. These are normal signs of the immune system responding, not something to worry about.
Contact your doctor promptly if you notice:
These serious reactions are rare, but worth knowing so you can act quickly if they do occur.
When your baby is born, you’ll get a Mother and Child Protection (MCP) card. This is the official record of every vaccine your child gets. Keep it safe, schools, doctors, and sometimes even visa applications ask to see it later.
Keep it with your other important documents and bring it to every vaccination visit. If it’s lost, reconstructing an accurate vaccine history can be genuinely difficult. Many clinics and pediatric apps also offer digital reminders now, which can help alongside the physical card, but the MCP card remains the official record.
It’s much easier to stay on schedule with a doctor who knows your child’s history and can catch anything that needs special attention, especially for babies who had any health issues at birth.
If you’re looking for a pediatrician in Jaipur, you can consult Dr. Surendra Vyas at Rungta Hospital to plan your child’s vaccines or get the next dose done on time.
This whole chart can look like a lot at once, but no parent has to remember it all by heart. Taken one visit at a time, with your doctor tracking the dates, it’s simple to manage. Save or bookmark this page so you have something to check before every visit, and always ask your doctor if anything here isn’t clear.
Book a pediatric consultation with our team at Rungta Hospital to plan or review your child’s vaccines.
What is the first vaccine a newborn gets in India? A newborn usually gets the BCG vaccine, the first dose of Hepatitis B, and the birth dose of polio vaccine (OPV) within 24 hours of birth.
What’s the difference between the government and IAP schedule? The government schedule (UIP) gives free, essential vaccines at public hospitals. The IAP schedule includes all of those plus a few extra vaccines like PCV, rotavirus, and hepatitis A, and it’s what most private pediatricians follow.
Can premature babies follow the same schedule? Usually yes, based on their actual age since birth rather than their due date, but always check with a pediatrician who knows your baby’s health history.
What if my child misses a dose? Just contact your doctor to get back on track. There’s no need to restart the whole series, your doctor will simply continue from where you left off.
Is it safe to give several vaccines in one visit? Yes. This is planned, not a shortcut. It means fewer visits and no delay in protecting your baby.
Are combo vaccines as good as individual ones? Yes. They’re tested for safety and effectiveness just like individual vaccines, and they protect just as well, with fewer shots.
Does my child need vaccines after age 5? Yes. Booster shots at 10–12 years and 16 years matter just as much as the early ones, since protection from some vaccines fades over time.
