Evaluation Of Immunization Cards And Parental Recall Against Gold Standard For Evaluating Immunization Coverage

India launched Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in India in 1978 to control Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD). In 1978, EPI coverage was included for six diseases: diphtheria, peruses, tetanus, poliomyelitis, typhoid and childhood tuberculosis. The aim of EIP was to cover 80% of all infants. Subsequently, the programme was universalized and renamed as Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) in 1985. Measles vaccine was included in the programme and typhoid vaccine was discontinued. The UIP was phased in from 1985 to cover all districts in the country by 1990, targeting all infants with the primary Immunization schedule and all pregnant women with Tetanus Toxic Immunization.1 2