FREE Vaccines at Government Hospitals
- by ["Apoorav Mehta"]
FREE Nationally (All Government Hospitals across India)
| Age | Vaccine | Disease |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | BCG | Tuberculosis |
| Birth | HepB – Dose 1 | Hepatitis B |
| Birth | OPV 0 | Polio |
| 6, 10, 14 Weeks | Pentavalent (DPT + HepB + Hib) | Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping Cough, Hepatitis B, Hib |
| 6, 10, 14 Weeks | OPV (Doses 1–3) | Polio (Oral) |
| 6 & 14 Weeks | fIPV (fractional Injectable Polio) | Polio (Injectable) |
| 9–12 Months | MR Vaccine (Measles-Rubella) – Dose 1 | Measles, Rubella |
| 16–24 Months | DPT Booster | Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping Cough |
| 16–24 Months | OPV Booster | Polio |
| 16–24 Months | MR Vaccine – Dose 2 | Measles, Rubella |
| 5–6 Years | DPT Booster | Diphtheria, Tetanus, Whooping Cough |
| 10 Years | Td | Tetanus, Diphtheria |
| 16 Years | Td | Tetanus, Diphtheria |
✅ FREE in Select States Only (Sub-National)
| Vaccine | Disease | Available In |
|---|---|---|
| Rotavirus (RVV) | Rotavirus Diarrhoea | UP, Rajasthan, MP, Haryana, HP, Jharkhand, Odisha, Assam, Tripura, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh + expanding |
| PCV (Pneumococcal) | Pneumonia, Meningitis | Bihar, MP, UP (select districts), HP, Rajasthan, Haryana + expanding |
| JE Vaccine | Japanese Encephalitis | Only in endemic districts |
💰 Paid Vaccines (Only at Private Clinics/Hospitals)
These are IAP-recommended but NOT covered under the government programme:
| Vaccine | Disease | Approx. Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Varicella | Chickenpox | ₹1,500–₹2,500 per dose |
| HepA | Hepatitis A | ₹900–₹1,500 per dose |
| Typhoid Conjugate (TCV) | Typhoid | ₹600–₹1,200 per dose |
| Influenza (Flu) | Seasonal Flu (yearly) | ₹500–₹1,000 per dose |
| MMR (govt gives only MR) | Measles + Mumps + Rubella | ₹500–₹900 per dose |
| HPV | Cervical & other Cancers | ₹2,000–₹4,000 per dose |
| Meningococcal (MCV) | Meningitis | ₹1,500–₹2,500 |
⚠️ Note: The government provides MR vaccine (Measles + Rubella only). IAP recommends MMR, which additionally covers Mumps — a disease that can cause meningitis, hearing loss, and testicular inflammation. Therrapie For full MMR protection, you need to go to a private clinic.
📊 Simple Summary
| Category | Vaccines |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Free everywhere | BCG, HepB, OPV, Pentavalent (DPT+Hib+HepB), IPV, MR, DPT Boosters, Td |
| 🟡 Free in some states | Rotavirus, PCV, JE |
| 🔴 Paid (private only) | Varicella, HepA, Typhoid (TCV), Influenza, MMR (mumps part), HPV, Meningococcal |
💡 Tip: Even if you rely on government vaccines for the basics, doctors especially recommend paying for Rotavirus, PCV, Varicella, HepA, and Typhoid as these diseases are very common in India and hospitalization costs far exceed the vaccine price. Always discuss with your pediatrician!
