Intensified Mission Indradhanush 5.0 Concluded

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare concluded the fifth phase of the Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI 5.0) campaign, which is the flagship routine immunization drive.

Intensified Mission Indradhanush 5.0

• IMI 5.0 ensures missed-out and dropped out children and pregnant women receive routine immunization services across the country. 
• This year, the vaccination campaign includes all districts and children up to 5 years old, compared to previous campaigns that targeted children up to 2 years old.
• IMI 5.0 campaign aims to improve immunization coverage for all vaccines provided under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) according to the National Immunization Schedule (NIS).

There is a focus on improving Measles and Rubella vaccination coverage to achieve Measles and Rubella elimination by 2023. Additionally, the U-WIN digital platform will be piloted for routine immunization across all districts in the country.

What is Mission Indradhanush? 

Mission Indradhanush was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on December 25, 2014.

• Under the Universal Immunization Program (UIP), a special catch-up campaign is conducted in areas with low immunization coverage to vaccinate all children and pregnant women who were left out or dropped out of Routine Immunization.
• The task of achieving full immunisation coverage is being fulfilled by an integrated and committed task force. 

Objective of the Mission Indradhanush

Objective of Mission Indradhanush is to ensure high coverage of children and pregnant women with all available vaccines throughout the country.

• The Universal Immunization Programme offers free life-saving vaccines to all children across the country. These vaccines protect them from diseases such as Tuberculosis, Polio, Hepatitis B, Pneumonia, Meningitis, Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib), Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Measles, Rubella, Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Rotavirus diarrhoea and Rubella, JE, and Rotavirus vaccine in select states and districts.

NOTE: India's Immunization Program is one of the largest public health initiatives globally. Originally launched as the Expanded Program on Immunization in 1978, it was renamed the Universal Immunization Program in 1985 when it was extended beyond urban areas.

• The Ministry is receiving technical support from WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International, and other donor partners.

Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI)

The Government of India has initiated the Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) with the aim of providing immunization to every child below the age of two and all pregnant women who have not received coverage under the regular immunization program. 

• The objective of IMI is to achieve full immunization coverage of 90% and enhance immunization coverage in the country.