Regarding vaccines in the National Immunisation Schedule (NIS) of India, all of the following statements are correct EXCEPT:

Explanation

## Immunisation Schedule — Current NIS (2024) ### BCG Vaccine **Key Point:** BCG is administered at birth (within 24 hours) and provides protection against tuberculosis, particularly severe forms like TB meningitis and miliary TB, for approximately 10–15 years. ### Rotavirus Vaccine **High-Yield:** Rotavirus vaccine is given orally (RotaTeq or Rotavac) at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age. This is a three-dose schedule, all oral. ### Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) **Key Point:** PCV is administered at 6, 10, and 14 weeks, with a booster dose at 12–15 months of age. This protects against invasive pneumococcal disease. ### Polio Vaccination Strategy — The Critical Point **Warning:** The statement "IPV has completely replaced OPV in all doses" is **INCORRECT**. **Current NIS Polio Schedule:** - **IPV (Inactivated Polio Vaccine):** Given at 6 and 14 weeks (2 doses) - **OPV (Oral Polio Vaccine):** Given at 10 weeks and 16–24 months (2 doses) India uses a **mixed IPV + OPV schedule**, not exclusive IPV. OPV continues to be part of the routine immunisation schedule because: 1. OPV provides mucosal immunity and herd immunity 2. OPV is cost-effective for a resource-limited setting 3. India maintains OPV as part of polio eradication strategy **Clinical Pearl:** The switch to exclusive IPV occurred in some high-income countries (e.g., USA post-2000), but India's NIS retains both vaccines in a sequential schedule. | Vaccine | Age (Weeks) | Route | Doses | |---------|-------------|-------|-------| | IPV | 6, 14 | IM/SC | 2 | | OPV | 10, 16–24 months | Oral | 2 | | BCG | Birth | ID | 1 | | Rotavirus | 6, 10, 14 | Oral | 3 | | PCV | 6, 10, 14, 12–15 mo (booster) | IM | 4 | **Mnemonic:** **"IPV at 6 & 14, OPV at 10 & 16–24"** — India's mixed polio strategy.