A standard vaccination chart in India protects children from birth to age five through scheduled doses against twelve major infectious diseases. It begins at birth with BCG, oral polio, and hepatitis B, continues at six, ten, and fourteen weeks with pentavalent and rotavirus shots, and finishes the primary series with measles-containing vaccines and booster doses up to age five.
What is the vaccination chart India 0 to 5 years schedule?
The childhood immunisation framework in India aligns national guidelines with paediatric recommendations to deliver immunity before infants encounter high-risk pathogens. In my OPD, I review vaccination records by grouping shots into four distinct age windows. The birth window covers BCG to guard against childhood tuberculosis, oral polio vaccine zero dose, and hepatitis B birth dose. These initial shots shield newborns within their earliest hours of life.
The primary infancy series follows at six, ten, and fourteen weeks of age. Each milestone delivers the pentavalent vaccine, which combines protection against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type b into a single injection. Alongside this, infants receive oral rotavirus drops to prevent severe dehydrating diarrhoea, injectable polio vaccine, and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to guard against severe bacterial pneumonia. Sticking to this timetable builds antibody levels before passive maternal antibodies fade away.
Between nine and twelve months, the schedule shifts toward viral protection with the first dose of the measles-rubella vaccine and Japanese encephalitis where indicated, followed by a second dose at fifteen to sixteen months along with varicella and hepatitis A. Booster doses then reinforce waning immunity. Between sixteen and twenty-four months, children receive their first diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus booster alongside an oral polio booster. A second booster shot arrives between four and five years of age, preparing children with strong immune defences before they enter formal school environments.
What should you do if your child misses a vaccine dose?
Last winter, a mother from Nyay Khand brought her ten-month-old daughter to my clinic with an immunisation booklet where a tea spill had erased the records of her third-round injections. She was convinced that missing the fourteen-week milestone meant starting the entire vaccination course again from day one. Her daughter was healthy and active, but the family had spent three anxious months delaying care over lost dates.
I tell parents that a delayed shot still builds strong immunity without resetting earlier doses. When a child misses an appointment (especially during seasonal viral outbreaks or family travel), you do not need to restart the primary series. The human immune system retains biological memory of previous doses. Paediatricians apply catch-up guidelines by giving the overdue dose at the earliest opportunity and maintaining the minimum required intervals before subsequent shots.
If you discover that your child has fallen behind, bring whatever records you have to the clinic. Your paediatrician reconstructs the timeline based on your child's age and previous documented visits. For combination vaccines like the pentavalent or MMR shots, catch-up schedules safely bridge gaps spanning several months or even years. The primary rule is simple: resume the schedule from where it paused, respect the spacing between doses, and complete every recommended booster.
What side effects are normal after childhood vaccines?
Mild post-vaccination reactions are common and indicate that your child's immune system is actively generating protective antibodies. Typical responses include low-grade fever, localized swelling or redness at the injection site, and temporary fussiness during the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours. Some infants also develop a small, firm nodule beneath the skin that gradually resolves over several weeks.
I tell families that a low fever after vaccination is an expected immune response rather than an illness. Medical science does not yet settle why two infants receiving identical vaccines from the same batch show completely different fever patterns. You can comfort your child by offering frequent feeds, maintaining a calm room temperature, and applying a cool cloth over the thigh. If fever causes noticeable discomfort, administer only the fever medicine your doctor advises, strictly adhering to paediatric guidance.
What does Healing Tree do for childhood vaccination?
At Healing Tree Hospital, our mother and child department provides newborn hearing screening (OAE) and vaccination for infants and young children. Paediatric consultations, routine immunisations, and developmental assessments take place during outpatient clinics in Shakti Khand III. Paediatric outpatient consultations run Monday to Saturday between 12:30 pm and 4 pm, where doctors maintain detailed vaccination cards to ensure timely coverage.
When should a baby see a doctor after an injection?
Most post-immunisation reactions settle within two days without medical intervention. However, parents should remain watchful for signs that indicate an unusual reaction or an unrelated concurrent infection.
Certain symptoms require immediate medical attention:
- A body temperature exceeding 39 degrees Celsius that does not respond to the fever medicine your doctor advises
- Persistent, inconsolable crying lasting longer than three continuous hours
- Marked drowsiness, floppiness, or difficulty waking up for feeds
- Swelling around the face, lips, or throat, or rapid, laboured breathing
- Seizure activity, twitching of limbs, or staring spells
If your child develops any of these warning signs, go immediately to the Healing Tree Hospital emergency department in Indirapuram, or call +91 92891 30163.
Store your child's vaccination card with their birth certificate in a dry folder, and check upcoming booster dates at every clinic visit.
This article provides general medical information and does not replace a consultation with a qualified paediatrician.