National Vaccination Day 2026 – March 16
National Vaccination Day, also known as National Immunisation Day (NID), is observed annually across India on 16 March to commemorate the first dose of the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) administered in 1995 and to raise awareness about the importance of timely vaccinations.
Background:
Global Initiative: In 1988, the World Health Assembly (WHA) adopted a resolution to eradicate polio (poliomyelitis) globally, leading to the launch of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) led by national governments and the World Health Organization (WHO).
India’s First OPV Dose : On 16 March 1995, India administered the first dose of the OPV under the Pulse Polio Programme, marking the beginning of National Vaccination Day celebrations in India.
India’s Immunisation Achievements:
Polio-Free Certification: India was declared polio-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 27 March 2014.
Immunisation Coverage: Full immunisation coverage increased significantly from 62% in 2015 to 98.4% in January 2026.
Zero-Dose Children: The proportion of zero-dose children declined from 0.11% in 2023 to 0.06% in 2024.