Appropriate strategy for childhood immunization in India - II-The need and purpose of an authoritative immunization schedule

There are too many conflicting and confusing schedules recommended by different experts for the immunization of children in India. The country needs a single authoritative schedule, reflecting the national policy on the choice of vaccines, number of doses and time sequence. We recommend that the Ministry of Health and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics together should formulate it. Epidemiological, immunological and logistical considerations should be taken into account in formulating such a schedule. Priority should be assigned to the available vaccines based on necessity, efficacy and safety. The schedule should be periodically reviewed and revised when necessary in the light of new information.