Key Details
The Rajya Sabha reply outlines progress in routine immunisation, preventive vaccination and pandemic preparedness through strengthened surveillance, frontline health systems and public health infrastructure.
Key Area | Main Update |
|---|---|
Routine immunisation | Full Immunisation Coverage (FIC) reached 97.9% in 2025–26, remaining above 93% for four consecutive years. |
HPV vaccination | Nationwide campaign launched on 28 February 2026 to provide free HPV vaccination to around 1.2 crore eligible 14-year-old girls across all States and UTs. |
Disease surveillance | ICMR's Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) network has expanded to more than 160 laboratories for pathogen detection and diagnosis. |
Health-system preparedness | Integrated training module introduced for frontline teams at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs), covering Medical Officers, Community Health Officers, Staff Nurses, ANMs and ASHAs. |
Emergency readiness | Oxygen infrastructure, integrated digital surveillance platforms and Rapid Response Teams continue to strengthen preparedness for future public-health emergencies. |
High Immunisation Coverage Continues
Replying to a Rajya Sabha question on 21 July 2026, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reported that India's Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) has maintained a Full Immunisation Coverage rate above 93% for four consecutive years, reaching 97.9% in 2025–26.
The Ministry also highlighted the nationwide rollout of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, launched on 28 February 2026, to provide free vaccination to around 1.2 crore eligible 14-year-old girls through government health facilities across all States and Union Territories. Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns are supporting vaccine uptake, particularly in rural, tribal and urban slum communities.
Disease Surveillance and Pandemic Preparedness Are Expanding
Alongside immunisation, the Government reported continued investment in systems for early disease detection and emergency response. The ICMR's Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) network now comprises more than 160 laboratories, strengthening laboratory-based detection of emerging infectious diseases, while the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) continues to support local Rapid Response Teams.
Preparedness has also been reinforced through integrated training for frontline healthcare workers at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, expansion of oxygen infrastructure—including PSA plants and medical gas pipeline systems—and digital platforms such as the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) and Health Management Information System (HMIS) for real-time disease surveillance and monitoring.
Prevention and Preparedness Are Being Integrated
The Rajya Sabha reply highlights a broader public health approach that combines routine immunisation, targeted vaccination campaigns and strengthened surveillance with investments in frontline health systems and emergency infrastructure. Together, these measures are intended to improve the health system's capacity to prevent disease outbreaks, detect emerging health threats early and respond more effectively during public health emergencies.
What Is the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) Network?
The Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) Network is an ICMR-supported network of laboratories established across medical colleges and tertiary institutions to detect, identify and monitor viral diseases using advanced diagnostic technologies. It strengthens India's capacity for laboratory-based disease surveillance and early outbreak detection.
Policy Relevance
Preventive Healthcare: Sustaining high immunisation coverage while expanding HPV vaccination strengthens protection against vaccine-preventable diseases across different stages of life.
Pandemic Preparedness: Expanded laboratory capacity, disease surveillance and Rapid Response Teams improve the early detection and management of emerging infectious diseases.
Primary Healthcare Capacity: Standardised training for frontline health workers strengthens the quality and consistency of care delivered through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.
Digital Public Health: Integrated surveillance platforms enable faster reporting, analysis and response to disease outbreaks through real-time health data.
Health-System Resilience: Investments in oxygen infrastructure, diagnostics and surveillance enhance the health system's capacity to manage future public health emergencies.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: As India's public health system expands beyond childhood immunisation, what criteria should guide the inclusion of new vaccines and preventive interventions in publicly funded immunisation programmes?
Follow the Full Rajya Sabha Reply Here: Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: Universal Immunisation Programme and Pandemic Preparedness Framework (Rajya Sabha Reply)