Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. All routine vaccination services offered through EPI are provided free of cost at government health facilities.

Vaccines, given as injections or oral drops, shield children from vaccine-preventable diseases that can carry serious complications and, in some cases, lead to lasting harm. Completing the full course on schedule is the best way to build lasting protection.

A child can be protected against 12 serious diseases in just 6 visits, receiving all recommended doses by 15 months of age.

Visit your nearest government health facility with an EPI centre. See the Immunization Schedule page for the full list of vaccines and visit the outreach schedule for centre locations near you.

Vaccines contain a weakened or inactivated form of a disease-causing organism, or a piece of it. This trains the body to produce antibodies that recognize and fight the real disease later on. All vaccines used in the programme are WHO pre-qualified, so their quality and reliability are closely controlled.

Yes. Every vaccine used in the programme is reviewed against strict WHO safety guidelines from manufacture through to delivery, and provides strong protection against serious, potentially life-threatening diseases.

Some children experience a mild reaction after vaccination, known as an Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI), such as soreness at the injection site, irritability, or a mild fever. These effects are usually short-lived and settle within a few days.

Contact your healthcare provider right away. Note the date and time the reaction started, and ask your doctor to file an AEFI report so it is properly recorded.

It's never too late to catch up. Speak to your healthcare provider or nearest health facility. Doses already given remain valid, so there's no need to restart the course, your child simply continues from where they left off.