Lok Sabha Question No. 1129 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-25
Subject: Zero Dose Vaccination
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Dr. K Sudhakar

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1129 TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH JULY 2025

## ZERO DOSE VACCINATION

## 1129: DR. K SUDHAKAR:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is any data on 'Zero dose' vaccinations in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether it is a fact that social and religious stigma still exists that prevents certain people from vaccination of their children if so, the details of steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to remove this stigma;
- (c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure cent-percent vaccination of children in the country;
- (d) whether there are any proposals under consideration by the Government for increasing the wages of ASHA workers in the country if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether steps are taken by the Government to ensure that ASHA workers are equipped and trained professionally and adequately compensated for ensuring that the problem of Zero dose vaccination is eliminated in our country, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

- (a) The number of Zero dose children/children who have not received Pentavalent 1 vaccine doses in the country has declined from 16 lakhs in 2023 to 9.09 lakhs in 2024.

(b) To maximize vaccine coverage in the country, Information Education and Communication (IEC) activities are implemented across the Nation. IEC dissemination is carried out through service broadcasters such as Doordarshan using media celebrities, radio jingles and YouTube podcasts. Social media platforms such as X handle, Instagram handle and Facebook page are used. Localized community-level activities such as miking, posters and group meetings are also organized.

(c) Government has taken the following measures in coordination with the States/UTs to ensure that all eligible children are vaccinated.

- i) Zero Dose Implementation Plan has been developed for 143 districts in 11 states to address challenges related to unvaccinated children.
2. ii) Mission Indradhanush (MI)/Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) are special vaccination campaigns conducted in collaboration with States having high number of unvaccinated children. Until 2023, Twelve phases of MI/IMI have been conducted where 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women have been vaccinated.
3. iii) National Immunization Days (NIDs) and Sub National Immunization Days (SNIDs) for Pulse Polio program are special vaccination campaigns carried out every year. India is maintaining Polio free status since 2014 onwards.
4. iv) Hosting of Village Health and Nutrition Day (VHND) on designated days for immunization activities.
- v) State Task Force on Immunization (STFI), District Task Force on Immunization (DTFI) and Block Task Force on Immunization (BTFI) ensures effective implementation of the immunization activities.
6. vi) The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also developed the UWIN portal for the registration and recording of all vaccination events of children and pregnant women.

(d) & (e) Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) are trained every year on routine immunization for carrying out seamless immunization service delivery. ASHAs are provided with incentives as per National Health Mission financial norms. ASHA incentives for routine and recurring activities have been increased to ₹3500 per month from ₹2000 per month as per the updated revision.

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