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Shishuka Health Journal · Preventive Care
A parent-friendly walkthrough of what gets given when, and why the timing itself is part of how vaccines work.
Vaccination schedules aren't arbitrary. Each age on the calendar is chosen because it's the point where a baby's own immunity from the mother has faded enough to need reinforcement, but the immune system is developed enough to respond well to the vaccine. Give a dose too early and it may not work as well; too late, and there's a window of exposure with no protection.
The table below follows the general structure of India's recommended immunization schedule. Treat it as an orientation, not a prescription — exact brands, combination vaccines, and catch-up plans vary by child and by what's available, and your pediatrician's version of this schedule is the one to actually follow.
| Age | Vaccines Typically Given | Protects Against |
|---|---|---|
| At birth | BCG, Hepatitis B (dose 1), OPV (birth dose) | Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Polio |
| 6 weeks | DTaP, IPV, Hib, Hepatitis B, Rotavirus, PCV (dose 1) | Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, Hib disease, rotavirus diarrhea, pneumococcal disease |
| 10 weeks | DTaP, IPV, Hib, Rotavirus, PCV (dose 2) | Same as above — second dose in the primary series |
| 14 weeks | DTaP, IPV, Hib, Rotavirus, PCV (dose 3) | Same as above — completes the primary series |
| 6 months | Hepatitis B (dose 3), OPV | Hepatitis B, polio |
| 9 months | Measles/MMR (dose 1) | Measles, mumps, rubella |
| 12 months | Hepatitis A (dose 1) | Hepatitis A |
| 15 months | MMR (dose 2), Varicella, PCV booster | Measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, pneumococcal disease |
| 16–18 months | DTaP booster, IPV booster, Hib booster | Reinforces immunity from the primary series |
| 18–19 months | Hepatitis A (dose 2) | Completes hepatitis A protection |
| 2 years | Typhoid conjugate vaccine | Typhoid fever |
A missed date isn't a missed chance — it's a call to your pediatrician for a catch-up plan, not a reason to skip the dose altogether.
Mild fever, fussiness, or soreness at the injection site for a day or two is a normal, expected immune response, not a sign anything went wrong. It usually settles on its own or with a pediatrician-guided dose of paracetamol.
A small lump at the injection site that lingers for a few weeks, particularly after BCG, is also typically normal and not a cause for concern.
What isn't normal and warrants a call: a fever above 104°F, non-stop crying for over three hours, unusual drowsiness, or any swelling or difficulty breathing shortly after the shot — these are rare, but worth acting on quickly rather than waiting.
Myth: A mild cold or low fever means the vaccine should be postponed. In most cases, a mild illness without high fever is not a reason to delay — check with your pediatrician rather than skipping the date on your own.
Myth: Too many vaccines at once overwhelm a baby's immune system. A baby's immune system responds to countless germs every day just from normal life; the antigens in a full schedule of vaccines are a small fraction of that everyday load.
Myth: If other children around you are vaccinated, your child doesn't need to be. Relying on the immunity of others leaves your own child unprotected the moment that assumption doesn't hold, and it weakens community protection for children too young or too medically fragile to be vaccinated themselves.
Track your child's schedule with us
Book your child's next vaccination with us and we'll flag upcoming doses proactively, rather than leaving you to track the schedule yourself.
This schedule is a general guide based on commonly followed Indian immunization recommendations and does not replace your pediatrician's specific schedule. Always confirm exact timing, brands, and catch-up doses with your child's doctor.