| | | Introduction | Immunization is one of the most cost effective public health intervention to reduce the childhood mortality & morbidity. Following the successful global eradication of smallpox in 1975 through effective vaccination programmes and strengthened surveillance, the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) was launched in India in 1978 to control other VPDs. The aim was to cover 80% of all infants. Subsequently, the programme was universalized and renamed as Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) in 1985 targeting all infants with the primary immunization schedule and all pregnant women with Tetanus Toxoid immunization. Following the successful launch & implementation of universal immunization programme in 1985, there has been considerable reduction in vaccine preventable diseases.
The UIP envisages achieving and sustaining universal immunization coverage in infants with three doses of DPT and OPV and one dose each of measles vaccine and BCG, and, in pregnant women, with two primary doses or one booster dose of TT. In 1992, the UIP became a part of the Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme (CSSM), and in 1997, it became an important component of the Reproductive and Child Health Programme (RCH) under which the Cold-chain system was strengthened and training programmes were launched extensively throughout the country. | | | Background | The expanded programme on immunization was started in January 1978 to reduce the incidence of diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio mellitus , measles, tuberculosis & typhoid fever. Since the start of EPI the immunization services were provided as regular health services in maternal & child health care centres , dispensaries & hospitals in urban areas & PHC’s & Sub Centres in rural areas.
|  | The universal immunization programme (UIP) was introduced in 1985-86 with the objective to cover at least 85 percent of all infants against the six vaccine preventable diseases by 1990 and to achieve self-sufficiency in vaccine production and the manufacture of cold-chain equipment for storage purpose .
The Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme jointly funded by World Bank and UNICEF was started in 1992-93 for implementation in a phased manner up to 1997-98.
In order to effectively improve the health status of women and children and fulfill the unmet need for Family Welfare services, especially of the poor and under served , by reducing infant child and maternal mortality and morbidity, Government of India during 1997-98 launched the RCH Programme for implementation during the 9th plan period by integrating Child Survival and Safe Motherhood (CSSM) Programme with other reproductive and child health (RCH) services. |
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The second phase of RCH program i.e. RCH – II has been commenced from 1st April, 2005 the five year file 2010. The main objective of the program is to bring about a change in mainly three critical health indicators i.e. reducing total fertility rate, infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate with a view to realizing the outcomes envisioned in the Millennium Development Goals, the National Population Policy 2000, and the Tenth Plan Document, the National Health Policy 2002 and Vision 2020 India.
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