'Universal Immunisation Programme covers only 65 pc children'

Only 65 per cent of children aged up to one year are covered under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), in which vaccines against seven life threatening diseases are administered in the country.
"As per the evaluated coverage data, the UIP currently covers only 65 per cent children," Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J P Nadda told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply today.
The Universal Immunisation Programme was launched in 1985 in a phased manner.
The government has launched 'Mission Indradhanush' on 25 December 2014 which aims to cover all children who are either partially vaccinated or unvaccinated. Under the Mission, vaccination is provided to protect children against seven life-threatening diseases including diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and Hepatitis B.

"The Mission focuses on interventions to rapidly increase full immunisation coverage of children from 65 per cent in 2014 to at least 90 per cent children in the next five years," the minister said.
Mission is a nationwide initiative with a special focus on 201 high focus districts. These 201 districts account for nearly 50 per cent of the partially vaccinated or unvaccinated children in the country.