National Immunization Programme (NIP) is the priority 1 (P1) program of Nepal. Launched as “Expanded Program on Immunization” in 2034 BS, national Immunization program has met several milestones during the past decades, including reduction of under 5 mortality goal (MDG 4). National immunization program provides equitable services to the geographically, economically hard to reach, marginalized community through more than 16,000 outreach sessions. Currently, 11 antigens are provided through national immunization program. The new initiatives of “Reaching Every Child” through declaring country as Fully Immunized initiated in 2012 has gained its height through community involvement and as of the date 18 districts and more than 1800 VDCs have been declared as fully immunized.
Nepal is polio free since 2010 and has switched to bOPV from tOPV since April 17 2016 (Baisakh 5 2073). Maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination status has been sustained since 2005. The burden of Japanese encephalitis has been successfully reduced during the reporting period. The progress towards the measles elimination and control of rubella /congenital rubella syndrome by 2019 is in progress. A new guideline on measles case based surveillance and Rubella/CRS control has been drafted and underway to endorsement.
GOAL: To reduce child mortality, morbidity and disability associated with vaccine preventable diseases.
Benefits:
Children from under 5 years and pregnant women can benefit from the following vaccines per the immunization schedule
| S.N. | VACCINATION | WHAT FOR | WHEN |
| 1 | Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) | Tuberculosis (क्षयरोग) | At birth |
| 2 | DPT-HepB-HiB | Diphtheria (भ्यागुते रोग) | 6, 10, 14 weeks |
| Pertussis (लहरे खोकी) | |||
| Tetanus (धनुषटंकार) | |||
| Hepatitis B and | |||
| Haemophilus influenzae type b | |||
| 3 | Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) | Polio | 6, 10, 14 weeks |
| 4 | Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) | Pneumococcal diseases (meninges, ear and chest infections) | 6, 10 weeks and 9 months |
| 5 | Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) | Polio | 14 weeks |
| 6 | Measles – Rubella (MR) | Measles (चेचक) and Rubella (German measles) | 9 and 15 months |
| 7 | Japanese Encephalitis (JE) | Japanese Encephalitis | 12 months |
| 8 | Tetanus Diphtheria (Td) | Tetanus (धनुषटंकार) and Diphtheria (भ्यागुते रोग) | 2 doses 1 month apart during Pregnancy |
| (For expecting mother) |
Service availability:
The services are available at District Hospitals, Primary Healthcare Centers and Health Posts and Female community Health Volunteers during campaigns
Eligibility criteria:
All children are eligible to acquire the vaccinations provided under National Immunization Program as and when required.
Required documents:
No documents or certifications need to be presented to claim subsidies and services under this program.
If you wish to find out more about the program, contact any of the following health facilities nearest to you –
District Health Office
District Hospital
Primary Health Care Centre
Health Posts
Program implemented by:
Child Health Division
Department of Health Services (DoHS)
Teku, Kathmandu
T : +977 1 4261660
F : +977 1 4251173