"We count on India" these are words from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as India's transition from seekers to suppliers has put India on the world map.

UN Secretary-General Guterres said "I would like to say how much we count on India. I mean, India has one of the most advanced pharmaceutical industries. India played a very important role in the production of generics for use that was a very important element of democratisation of access to medicines all over the world," 

First ever vaccine

In 1796, scientist Edward Jenner injected material from a cowpox virus into an eight-year boy. With a feeling that the material would provide the protection needed to save people from deadly outbreaks of related smallpox. Edward Jenner succeeds in the experiment as the eight-year-old boy was immunized against the diseases, which became the first-ever vaccine.

On March 16th every year, India observes National Vaccination day, also known as Immunization day. It was on this day in 1995 that the first dose of the Oral Polio vaccine was given in India.

Eradicating Polio

Over the years, immunization has proved to be the most important tool in controlling and eliminating life-threatening infectious diseases. The diseases if not controlled can have a major impact on humankind which lasts for a long period of time. 

The initiative to eradicate polio from India came in the form of the Pulse Polio Campaign launched by the government. Under this extensive drive, 2 drops of Oral Polio Vaccine were given to all children younger than 5 years of age.

India committed to the resolution passed by the World Health Assembly for Global Polio Eradication in 1988. As a result of an aggressive vaccination campaign against Polio, India was declared Polio free in March 2014. Another major milestone is the elimination of Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus in 2015.
 
Importance of vaccination

Vaccination is the most effective method of preventing highly infectious diseases as a vaccine directly targets the foreign microbes that invade our immune system causing illness. Further, vaccine creates a mechanism for the same virus so the body gets prepared for the future if the same virus attacks the immune system.

Large-scale immunity due to vaccination is mostly responsible for the worldwide eradication of smallpox and the restraint of diseases like Polio, Measles, and Tetanus from a large part of the world. Vaccination is estimated to prevent between 2-3 million deaths every year.

History of Immunisation in India

India launched its first vaccine Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) over 50 years ago. BCG was used against TB and was launched in 1962 as a part of the National Tuberculosis Programme.

An expanded program on Immunisation was launched in 1978. Initially, it included BCG, DPT, Typhoid vaccine. In 1979 OPV was also added. 

In 1985, the programme was modified to become the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). It was implemented in a phased manner. By 1989-1990 it was one of the largest health programmes in the world.

UIP became a part of the Child Survival and Safe Motherhood Programme in 1992. Since 1997, immunization is an important component of the National Reproductive and Child Health Programme, and the current National Health Mission.
 
Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP)

India has one of the biggest Universal Immunisation Programmes (UIP) in the world, in terms of the number of beneficiaries covered, quantities of vaccinations used, geographical spread to the resources used. The programme is the largest public health programme targeting close to 67 crore newborns, 2.9 crore pregnant women annually.

Free vaccination is carried out throughout the country including Tribal and remote areas. It is one of the cost-effective public health interventions responsible for the reduction of vaccine-preventable under-5 mortality rate, with free of cost vaccination against 12 diseases.