Age
Birth
Vaccine(s)
BCG, OPV (birth dose), Hepatitis B (birth dose)
Disease(s) Prevented
Tuberculosis, Poliomyelitis, Hepatitis B
ReferenceAll Years (1st-Final)All UniversitiesAll Subjects
IAP Immunization Schedule (MBBS Reference)
The Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) immunization schedule sets the evidence-based vaccination recommendations for children in India, extending beyond the government's Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) to include additional vaccines. As an MBBS student, you will encounter this schedule in your Community Medicine (Phase 3 Part 1, 3rd Year) and Paediatrics (Phase 3 Part 2, Final Year) papers. University exam questions frequently test your ability to list vaccines by age group, distinguish the IAP schedule from the National Immunization Programme (NIP), classify vaccines as live or killed, and explain the cold chain system.
SME-reviewed & Updated 2026.
Download the GeckoMed app to access your Community Medicine and Paediatrics notes, PYQs, and viva prepIAP Immunization Schedule at a Glance
The IAP Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Immunization Practices (ACVIP) publishes revised recommendations annually. The table below reflects the established schedule as taught at MBBS curriculum level. Always cross-check against the latest IAP ACVIP publication for any new additions or changes.
| Age | Vaccine(s) | Disease(s) Prevented |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | BCG, OPV (birth dose), Hepatitis B (birth dose) | Tuberculosis, Poliomyelitis, Hepatitis B |
| 6 Weeks | DTwP or DTaP (1st), IPV (1st), Hib (1st), Hepatitis B (2nd), Rotavirus vaccine (1st), PCV (1st) | Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, H. influenzae type b infections, Hepatitis B, Rotavirus gastroenteritis, Pneumococcal disease |
| 10 Weeks | DTwP or DTaP (2nd), IPV (2nd), Hib (2nd), Rotavirus vaccine (2nd), PCV (2nd) | (same as 6-week vaccines) |
| 14 Weeks | DTwP or DTaP (3rd), IPV (3rd), Hib (3rd), Hepatitis B (3rd), Rotavirus vaccine (3rd), PCV (3rd) | (same as 6-week vaccines) |
| 6 Months | Influenza (1st dose) | Influenza |
| 9 Months | Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV, 1st dose) | Typhoid fever |
| 12 to 15 Months | MMR (1st dose), Varicella (1st dose), PCV (booster) | Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Chickenpox, Pneumococcal disease |
| 12 Months | Hepatitis A (1st dose) | Hepatitis A |
| 18 Months | DTwP or DTaP (1st booster), OPV (1st booster), TCV (booster), Hepatitis A (2nd dose) | Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Typhoid, Hepatitis A |
| 4 to 6 Years | DTwP or DTaP (2nd booster), OPV (2nd booster), MMR (2nd dose), Varicella (2nd dose) | Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Measles/Mumps/Rubella, Chickenpox |
| 10 to 12 Years | Tdap (booster), HPV (2-dose series, 6 months apart), Annual Influenza | Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, HPV-related cancers, Influenza |
Age
6 Weeks
Vaccine(s)
DTwP or DTaP (1st), IPV (1st), Hib (1st), Hepatitis B (2nd), Rotavirus vaccine (1st), PCV (1st)
Disease(s) Prevented
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, H. influenzae type b infections, Hepatitis B, Rotavirus gastroenteritis, Pneumococcal disease
Age
10 Weeks
Vaccine(s)
DTwP or DTaP (2nd), IPV (2nd), Hib (2nd), Rotavirus vaccine (2nd), PCV (2nd)
Disease(s) Prevented
(same as 6-week vaccines)
Age
14 Weeks
Vaccine(s)
DTwP or DTaP (3rd), IPV (3rd), Hib (3rd), Hepatitis B (3rd), Rotavirus vaccine (3rd), PCV (3rd)
Disease(s) Prevented
(same as 6-week vaccines)
Age
6 Months
Vaccine(s)
Influenza (1st dose)
Disease(s) Prevented
Influenza
Age
9 Months
Vaccine(s)
Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV, 1st dose)
Disease(s) Prevented
Typhoid fever
Age
12 to 15 Months
Vaccine(s)
MMR (1st dose), Varicella (1st dose), PCV (booster)
Disease(s) Prevented
Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Chickenpox, Pneumococcal disease
Age
12 Months
Vaccine(s)
Hepatitis A (1st dose)
Disease(s) Prevented
Hepatitis A
Age
18 Months
Vaccine(s)
DTwP or DTaP (1st booster), OPV (1st booster), TCV (booster), Hepatitis A (2nd dose)
Disease(s) Prevented
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Typhoid, Hepatitis A
Age
4 to 6 Years
Vaccine(s)
DTwP or DTaP (2nd booster), OPV (2nd booster), MMR (2nd dose), Varicella (2nd dose)
Disease(s) Prevented
Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Measles/Mumps/Rubella, Chickenpox
Age
10 to 12 Years
Vaccine(s)
Tdap (booster), HPV (2-dose series, 6 months apart), Annual Influenza
Disease(s) Prevented
Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, HPV-related cancers, Influenza
Notes for MBBS students:
- The 6-week, 10-week, and 14-week doses form the primary series for DTwP/DTaP, IPV, Hib, PCV, and Rotavirus. All three are required for complete primary immunisation.
- HPV vaccine is recommended for both girls and boys as per current IAP ACVIP guidelines.
- Annual influenza vaccination is recommended throughout childhood from 6 months of age.
- Japanese Encephalitis (JE) vaccine is additionally recommended for children living in or travelling to JE-endemic areas of India.
- Check the latest IAP ACVIP publication for any revisions to the above.
IAP Schedule vs National Immunization Programme
Examiners commonly ask students to differentiate between the two. The key distinctions are below.
| Parameter | National Immunization Programme (NIP/UIP) | IAP Recommended Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Governing body | Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India | IAP Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Immunization Practices (ACVIP) |
| Cost to recipient | Free at government health centres | Requires out-of-pocket payment for additional vaccines |
| Core vaccines covered | BCG, OPV, HBV, DPT, IPV (selected states), Measles/MR/MMR, TT/Td, Rotavirus, PCV (selected states) | All NIP vaccines plus Hib, Varicella, Hepatitis A, Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine, HPV, Influenza, and JE (endemic areas) |
| Target population | All children across India, with priority on high-burden diseases | Children whose families can access private healthcare; also guides policy on new vaccine introductions |
| Update cycle | Periodic government policy revision | Annual IAP ACVIP publication |
Parameter
Governing body
National Immunization Programme (NIP/UIP)
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
IAP Recommended Schedule
IAP Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Immunization Practices (ACVIP)
Parameter
Cost to recipient
National Immunization Programme (NIP/UIP)
Free at government health centres
IAP Recommended Schedule
Requires out-of-pocket payment for additional vaccines
Parameter
Core vaccines covered
National Immunization Programme (NIP/UIP)
BCG, OPV, HBV, DPT, IPV (selected states), Measles/MR/MMR, TT/Td, Rotavirus, PCV (selected states)
IAP Recommended Schedule
All NIP vaccines plus Hib, Varicella, Hepatitis A, Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine, HPV, Influenza, and JE (endemic areas)
Parameter
Target population
National Immunization Programme (NIP/UIP)
All children across India, with priority on high-burden diseases
IAP Recommended Schedule
Children whose families can access private healthcare; also guides policy on new vaccine introductions
Parameter
Update cycle
National Immunization Programme (NIP/UIP)
Periodic government policy revision
IAP Recommended Schedule
Annual IAP ACVIP publication
Examiner tip: The distinction between "compulsory/mandatory" and "optional" IAP vaccines may be tested in short notes. Compulsory IAP vaccines are those universally recommended for all children; optional vaccines are those recommended based on risk or availability.
How This Topic Appears in MBBS Exams
The IAP immunization schedule is tested in Community Medicine and Paediatrics theory papers and viva exams across all major Indian universities. Common question formats include:
- "Write a short note on the IAP immunization schedule." (5 marks, Community Medicine or Paediatrics)
- "Enumerate the vaccines given at birth as per the IAP or NIP schedule." (5 marks)
- "Differentiate between the National Immunization Programme and the IAP recommended immunization schedule." (10 marks)
- "Classify vaccines used in childhood immunisation with examples." (5 or 10 marks; may also appear in Microbiology and Pharmacology)
- "What is the cold chain? Explain its importance in immunisation." (5 marks, Community Medicine)
- "Write a note on the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI)." (5 marks)
Revise these associated concepts alongside the schedule, as they are tested together:
- Vaccine classification: live attenuated (BCG, OPV, MMR, Varicella) vs killed or inactivated (IPV, Hepatitis B, TCV) vs toxoid (tetanus and diphtheria components of DTP) vs conjugate or subunit (Hib, PCV, HPV).
- Cold chain: the system of transport and storage that keeps vaccines within required temperature ranges from manufacturer to point of administration.
- Herd immunity: the threshold proportion of immune individuals in a population required to interrupt disease transmission and protect unimmunised individuals.
- Vaccine failure: primary failure (failure to seroconvert after vaccination) vs secondary failure (waning of initially acquired immunity).
- Adverse events following immunisation (AEFI): classified as local reactions, systemic reactions, allergic reactions, vaccine-induced reactions, and programme errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the IAP immunization schedule the same as the Government of India schedule?
No. The Government of India runs the National Immunization Programme (NIP), also called the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), which provides a core set of vaccines free of charge at government health centres. The IAP schedule, updated annually by the IAP ACVIP, recommends additional vaccines such as Hib, PCV, Varicella, Hepatitis A, Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine, and HPV that go beyond the NIP list. For your university exams, you are expected to know both schedules and be able to compare them.
Which MBBS subjects test the immunization schedule?
The schedule is primarily tested in Community Medicine (Phase 3 Part 1, 3rd Year) and Paediatrics (Phase 3 Part 2, Final Year). Vaccine classification questions -- live vs killed, toxoid vs conjugate -- may also appear in Microbiology and Pharmacology papers. Cold chain questions appear as Community Medicine short notes.
How often does the IAP update its immunization schedule?
The IAP ACVIP publishes revised recommendations annually. Updates may introduce new vaccines, revise dosing intervals, or adjust age recommendations based on new evidence. For the most current schedule, refer to the official IAP ACVIP publication for the current year. For exam purposes, the framework taught in your curriculum textbooks remains the standard reference unless your university specifies otherwise.
Try Gecko Med
Practice smarter with the app behind these resources.
Revise high-yield topics, solve previous year questions, and keep your MBBS prep moving in one place.