IAP Vaccine Schedule India: Complete Baby Immunization Chart 2024–25

Your baby is here, and every appointment on the IAP schedule is a step you take to protect them. Keeping track of which vaccine comes next — and exactly when — can feel overwhelming in those early months. The aayi app sends you and your partner automatic reminders before every dose so no date ever slips through, and your baby stays protected on schedule.

Why the IAP vaccine schedule matters for your baby

When your newborn arrives, one of the most important things you can do to protect them is follow the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) immunization schedule. The IAP updates these recommendations regularly — the 2023 schedule, used through 2024 and 2025, reflects the latest research on when vaccines are most effective and which combinations are safest.

India's burden of vaccine-preventable diseases — measles, tuberculosis, hepatitis B, pneumonia, and rotavirus diarrhea — is among the highest in the world. Vaccines do not just protect your child; they build community immunity, protecting newborns who are too young to be vaccinated and children whose immune systems cannot respond to vaccines.

The IAP schedule is designed around your baby's developing immune system. Vaccines given at the right age trigger the strongest protective response. Delaying or skipping doses leaves windows of vulnerability — often precisely when children are most at risk.

The complete IAP immunization chart (birth to 5 years)

Below is the full IAP 2023 recommended vaccine schedule for children in India. Bring this chart to every pediatric visit and mark each dose as it is given.

Source: IAP Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Immunization Practices (ACVIP) 2023 schedule. Consult your pediatrician for individual recommendations.

Birth vaccines — what your newborn gets in the first hour

Within the first few hours of birth, your baby receives three important vaccines:

• BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin): A single injection in the left upper arm that protects against tuberculosis (TB), particularly the severe forms that affect the brain and bloodstream in young children. India still has one of the highest TB burdens in the world, making this dose critical.
• OPV-0 (Oral Polio Vaccine — birth dose): Two drops given by mouth. India was declared polio-free in 2014, but OPV is continued to maintain that status and protect against reintroduction of the virus.
• Hepatitis B (birth dose): Given as an injection within 24 hours of birth. The sooner this dose is given, the better it protects against mother-to-child transmission of the hepatitis B virus, which can cause chronic liver disease and liver cancer.

If your baby is born in a hospital, these vaccines are usually given by the nursing staff before you leave the maternity ward. If you have a home birth, arrange for your newborn to receive these at the nearest health center within 24 hours.

6 weeks to 14 weeks — the critical early doses

The period between 6 and 14 weeks is arguably the most vaccine-intensive phase of your baby's early life — and for good reason. Your baby's passive immunity (antibodies passed from you during pregnancy) begins to wane, and their own immune system needs to start building its defenses.

At 6, 10, and 14 weeks, your baby receives three rounds of several vaccines together. This may feel like a lot, but modern vaccines are designed to be given together safely. The key vaccines in this period are:

• DTwP or DTaP: Protects against diphtheria (a throat infection that can block the airway), tetanus (lockjaw), and pertussis (whooping cough, which is especially dangerous for infants). DTaP uses acellular pertussis antigens and tends to cause fewer side effects than DTwP.
• IPV (Inactivated Polio Vaccine): Injectable polio vaccine given alongside or instead of OPV for stronger immunity.
• Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b): Prevents bacterial meningitis, pneumonia, and epiglottitis — serious Hib infections that were a major cause of childhood disability and death before this vaccine was introduced.
• PCV (Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine): Protects against pneumococcal bacteria, which cause pneumonia, meningitis, and ear infections. A leading cause of childhood death in India.
• Rotavirus vaccine: An oral vaccine given in drops. Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in infants in India — responsible for hospitalizations and deaths that are entirely preventable with this vaccine.

Your baby may be a bit cranky and have mild redness at injection sites after these visits. This is normal. See the side effects section below for what to expect.

6 months to 12 months — the second phase

As your baby approaches the half-year mark and starts exploring the world, the IAP schedule shifts toward protecting against diseases spread through food, water, and respiratory droplets.

• Influenza vaccine (6 months): The flu may seem mild in adults, but in infants it can cause severe pneumonia and febrile seizures. The first year, two doses are given four weeks apart; after that, one dose annually before the monsoon season is recommended.
• MMR — 1st dose (9 months): The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. Measles is the most dangerous of the three — India still sees outbreaks, and children under 5 are most at risk for complications including blindness, brain damage, and death. The 9-month dose is specifically chosen because maternal antibodies begin to wane by this age.
• Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (9 months): Typhoid is endemic in India. The conjugate vaccine (TCV) offers better and longer-lasting protection than older typhoid vaccines and can be given from 6 months of age.
• Hepatitis A and Varicella (12 months): Hepatitis A is spread through contaminated water and food — common in India's monsoon season. Varicella (chickenpox) may seem harmless but can lead to severe bacterial skin infections, pneumonia, and, rarely, encephalitis.

15 months to 5 years — boosters and additional vaccines

Boosters are not redundant — they are essential. The immune response from the initial doses fades over time, and booster doses dramatically extend the duration of protection.

• MMR 2nd dose (15 months): Ensures full protection against measles. Approximately 5% of children do not develop full immunity after the first dose; the second dose catches those who did not respond adequately.
• DTP and polio boosters (18 months and 4–6 years): Extends immunity through the pre-school years, when children begin attending nurseries and playgroups — environments where respiratory diseases spread easily.
• Hepatitis A 2nd dose (18 months): The two-dose regimen provides near-lifelong protection.
• Typhoid booster (2 years and beyond): Typhoid protection from TCV is recommended as a booster every 3 years in high-risk areas.

What to expect after vaccination — normal side effects

Most babies have mild reactions after vaccines — these are signs that the immune system is responding, not signs that something is wrong.

Normal reactions (no need to call the doctor)

• Mild fever (up to 38.5°C / 101.3°F): Common after DTwP especially. Give paracetamol at the dose recommended by your pediatrician if your baby seems uncomfortable.
• Redness, swelling, and soreness at the injection site: Usually resolves within 2–3 days. A warm cloth applied gently can help.
• Irritability and crying: Your baby may be fussier than usual for 24–48 hours. Extra cuddles and feeding help.
• Drowsiness or sleeping more: The immune response uses energy. Let your baby rest.
• Mild rash (after MMR, 7–12 days later): A light rash 1–2 weeks after MMR is a normal immune response, not an infection.

When to call your pediatrician immediately

Common vaccine myths in India — debunked

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more on Aayi.ai

• For Pediatricians — vaccine tracking and parent communication tools
• For Parents — pregnancy, newborn care, and child health guides