MISSION INDRADHANUSH

The Government of India has launched Mission Indradhanush on 25 December 2014 as a special drive to
vaccinate all unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children and pregnant women by 2020 under the
Universal Immunization Programme.

Since the launch of Universal Immunization Programme in 1985, full immunization coverage in India has
not surpassed 65% despite all efforts. Mission Indradhanush focuses on interventions to expand to more
this coverage to more than 90% children.

Under Mission Indradhanush, the Government has

identified 201 high focus districts (list annexed) across the
country. These districts have been identified based on a
composite indicator, considering full immunization
coverage, number of partially vaccinated and
unvaccinated children and whether the district is an
identified HPD or EPRP HR district. Nearly 50% of all
unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children in India are
in these 201 districts. Intensified routine immunization
campaigns in these districts will help reduce morbidity
and mortality due to vaccine preventable diseases. This
will be done through special catch-up campaigns to
201 High Focus Districts
rapidly increase full immunization coverage.

Mission Indradhanush aims to strengthen key functional areas of immunization programme for ensuring
high coverage throughout the country, with special attention to 201 identified high focus districts.

The broad strategy, based on evidence and best practices, will include four basic elements: -

1. Meticulous planning of campaigns/sessions at all levels: Ensure revision of micro plans in all blocks
and urban areas in each district to ensure availability of sufficient vaccinators and all vaccines during
routine immunization sessions. Develop special plans to reach the unreached children and pregnant
women in vacant sub centre areas, areas with missed RI sessions, high risk settlements such as
urban slums, construction sites, brick kilns, nomadic sites and hard-to-reach areas identified under
polio eradication initiative, areas with low RI coverage and small villages or hamlets that are clubbed
with another village for RI services and do not have independent RI sessions.

2. Effective communication and social mobilization efforts: Generate awareness and demand for
immunization services through need-based communication strategies and social mobilization
activities to enhance participation of the community in the routine immunization programme
through mass media, mid media, interpersonal communication (IPC), school and youth networks
and corporates.

3. Intensive training of the health officials and frontline workers: Build the capacity of health officials
and workers in routine immunization activities for quality immunization services.

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4. Establish accountability framework through task forces: Enhance involvement and

accountability/ownership of the district administrative and health machinery by strengthening the
district task forces for immunization in all districts of India and ensuring the use of concurrent
session monitoring data to plug the gaps in implementation on a real time basis.

Mission Indradhanush will provide a complete package of solutions for achieving high quality routine
immunization coverage through a collaborative process involving all major stakeholders and adopting
the learnings from polio eradication programme in planning and implementation of the mission. Besides
improving vaccine delivery mechanism and building capacity of human resources, the mission aims at
strengthening monitoring and evaluation mechanisms – thus contributing to health systems
strengthening.

The Mission will identify and enlist beneficiaries that have either not received any vaccination or are
partially vaccinated, track and vaccinate them through four campaigns every year.

The successful implementation of the mission will depend on the following actions at different levels:

1. National level
a. Mission Indradhanush will be reviewed by the office of Honorable Prime Minister and Minister of
Health and Family Welfare.
b. Coordination with other ministries and key partners will be strengthened for effective programme
implementation.
c. State officials will be oriented on operational and financial guidelines.
d. National task force will review and monitor the implementation and progress of Mission
Indradhanush.
e. Prototypes of communication materials, including banners, posters, audio and video spots will be
prepared and shared with all states.

2. State level
a. State task force for immunization, under leadership of Principal Secretary Health to guide and
monitor progress in districts.
b. Strengthen coordination with other relevant departments and key partners for effective programme
implementation.
c. Principal Secretary Health and Mission Director, NHM to sensitize District Magistrates concerned
through video conference before first week of February, followed by a video conference to review
preparedness for the forthcoming campaign. Subsequently, quality of each round to be reviewed
through video conference.
d. District and urban bodies’ officials to be oriented on operational and financial guidelines.
e. Printing and dissemination of communication materials, including banners, posters, audio and video
spots.
f. Timely dissemination of funds, vaccines and communication materials

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g. Designate senior state level observers to involved districts to oversee preparedness and
implementation

3. District level
a. District task force for immunization, under leadership of District Magistrate to guide and monitor
progress in blocks/urban bodies.
b. Strengthen coordination with other relevant departments and key partners for effective programme
implementation.
c. Block and urban bodies’ officials to be oriented on operational and financial guidelines.
d. Preparation of timeline of activities for effective programme implementation
e. Timely dissemination of funds, vaccines and communication materials
f. Designate senior district level observers to priority blocks to oversee preparedness and
implementation
g. Daily evening feedback meetings during the Immunization Week at the district for sharing feedback
and corrective actions.
h. District preparedness meeting, chaired by Chief Medical Officer/Civil Surgeon to orient all block
Medical Officer in charges on micro-planning and reporting mechanisms.

4. Block/Urban area level

a. Block area task force for immunization, under leadership of Block Development Officer to guide and
monitor progress in blocks/urban local bodies.
b. Training of frontline health workers, including ANMs, ASHAs and anganwadi workers.
c. Sensitization of PRIs
d. Estimation of beneficiaries in left out areas by ASHAs