MISSION INDRADHANUSH

Mission Indradhanush was launched on 25^th December, 2014 with an objective to ensure full (gt;90%) immunization of children below two years by 2020 and pregnant women by year 2020, specially in low-coverage districts.

First phase began on 7^th April, 2015, the World Health Day, with four week-long monthly rounds of intensified immunization in selected high-priority districts with lt;50% immunization coverage. Within the districts, the mission focused on high-risk settlements of nomads and migrant labor, forest-dwellers, tribal regions, inaccessible geographical areas and urban slums. Zinc tablets and ORS packets were also freely distributed during these rounds to protect against diarrhea.

Since then, the program has been conducted in different phases, the latest being Intensified Mission Indradhanush 5.0, launched in 2023. Unlike previous phases, Mission Indradhanush 5.0 covered whole country (rather than high-priority populations) with three rounds at monthly interval to provide all due/missed vaccines under NIS to children below 2 years.

Global alliance for vaccine and immunization (GAVI): GAVI is an international coalition of funding agencies, National Health Programs of various countries and NGOs to independently fund or raise new resources: (a) to improvement of immunization services and coverage in developing countries, (b) to fund research and development activities for newer vaccines, and (c) to promote safe immunization practices. India mainly receives GAVI support for HBV and pentavalent vaccine along with supply of vaccination equipment and injection safety programs.

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