Quick answer
What vaccinations does my child need?
The vaccines a child needs depend on age, the doses already given and the child's health. In India, pediatricians generally follow the Indian Academy of Pediatrics schedule alongside the national immunization programme. The simplest way to know what is due is to bring your child's vaccination card to a pediatric consultation for review.
Why are childhood vaccinations important?
Vaccines train a child's immune system to recognise specific infections before the child meets them. This lowers the chance of serious illness from diseases such as measles, polio, whooping cough and others that were once common in childhood.
Vaccination also protects people around the child, including babies who are too young to be vaccinated. Keeping doses on time gives protection when a child is most vulnerable.
When do parents book a vaccination visit?
- A dose is due according to the vaccination card
- You are unsure which vaccines have been given or are pending
- One or more doses were missed or delayed
- Records are from another city or country and need to be reconciled
- Your child is starting school, travelling or entering adolescence
- You have questions about a specific vaccine or its side effects
What is covered in a vaccination consultation?
- Record review
- Every past dose is checked against your child's age to identify what is due.
- Routine doses
- Vaccines recommended through infancy, childhood and adolescence.
- Catch-up planning
- A practical plan when doses have been missed or delayed.
- Optional vaccines
- A clear explanation of additional vaccines so you can make an informed choice.
- After-care
- What reactions are common, how to keep your child comfortable and when to call.
How GROW approaches vaccination
Vaccination at GROW is part of a pediatric consultation. The pediatrician confirms your child is well on the day, reviews the record and explains which vaccine is being given and why.
Children are kept as comfortable as possible, parents stay with their child throughout, and the card is updated before you leave with the next due date written down.
What happens at a vaccination visit?
Check-in
Share your child's vaccination card and any recent illness or reaction to earlier doses.
Health check
The pediatrician confirms your child is fit for vaccination that day.
Explanation
You are told which vaccine is due, what it protects against and what to expect afterwards.
Vaccination
The dose is given while you hold and comfort your child.
Record and next date
The card is updated and the next visit is noted.
Age groups
Newborns, infants, toddlers, school-age children and adolescents up to 18 years.
What to bring
- Your child's vaccination card or booklet with all previous entries
- Any vaccination records from another clinic, city or country
- Details of reactions to earlier vaccines, if any
- A list of current medicines and known allergies
When to seek urgent medical care
Do not wait for a routine appointment if your child has any of the following:
- Difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or lips, or widespread hives after a vaccine
- A child who becomes very drowsy, limp or difficult to wake
- Persistent high fever or inconsolable crying that is unusual for your child
Go to the nearest emergency department or call your local emergency number.
Vaccination: frequently asked questions
Why are childhood vaccinations important?
Vaccinations protect children from serious infections at the ages when they are most vulnerable, and they reduce the spread of those infections to others, including babies too young to be vaccinated.
How can parents check which vaccines are due?
Bring your child's vaccination card to a pediatric consultation. The pediatrician compares the recorded doses with your child's age and tells you what is due now and what is coming up.
Can vaccination be discussed during a pediatric consultation?
Yes. Vaccination can be reviewed at any consultation, and many parents use routine check-ups to confirm their child's record is up to date.
What information should parents bring for vaccination?
Bring the vaccination card, any records from other clinics, details of past vaccine reactions and a list of current medicines and allergies.
What if my child has missed a vaccine?
Missed doses can usually be caught up. The pediatrician will review the record and plan the remaining doses; in most cases a vaccine series does not need to be restarted.
Further reading
General guidance on this page is consistent with information published by:
