Immunization Schedule for NEET PG: The Complete Age-Wise Breakdown

Immunization schedule questions test the sequence and timing more than the vaccines themselves — which dose comes at which age, and which vaccine is the odd one out in a described schedule. Organizing the schedule by age window, rather than trying to memorize a flat list, is what makes this stick.

The Standard Schedule, by Age

Age	Vaccines (as per India’s Universal Immunization Programme)
At birth	BCG, OPV-0, Hepatitis B birth dose
6, 10, 14 weeks	DPT, OPV, Hepatitis B, Hib (often as a combination/pentavalent vaccine), IPV
9 months	Measles-Rubella (MR) first dose
16–24 months	DPT booster, OPV booster, MR second dose
5–6 years	DPT second booster
10 and 16 years	Tetanus toxoid (TT)

Note: national immunization schedules are periodically revised — vaccines like Rotavirus and Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) have been added to the UIP in recent years in a phased, state-wise manner. Always cross-check the current schedule against the latest official Ministry of Health & Family Welfare notification rather than relying solely on any single source, including this one.

Why BCG Is Given at Birth

BCG protects primarily against severe, disseminated forms of childhood tuberculosis (miliary TB, TB meningitis) rather than reliably preventing pulmonary TB in adulthood — which is exactly why it’s given as early as possible, at birth, rather than later in childhood.

The OPV vs IPV Distinction

Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) is a live attenuated vaccine given orally, used heavily in India’s Pulse Polio campaigns for its ease of administration and ability to induce intestinal immunity. Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) is given by injection and carries no risk of vaccine-derived poliovirus, which is why global polio eradication strategy has shifted toward incorporating IPV alongside OPV.

Age-sequencing questions like this are exactly what Reflex’s daily TROCAR Pediatrics rounds are built to drill.