The Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) was established in 1978 to vaccinate approximately six million children aged 0-11 months against nine deadly vaccine-preventable diseases. The immunization schedule outlines the different vaccines administered at birth, 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 14 weeks, and 9-15 months to protect against diseases like tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, pertussis, and measles. A crucial part of EPI is maintaining an effective cold chain through trained personnel, proper storage and transport equipment, and efficient management procedures to ensure vaccine efficacy from factory to recipient. Additional protocols include temperature monitoring and documentation, as well as written cold chain management policies.

1. THE EXPANDED PROGRAM ON
IMMUNIZATION
(EPI)

2.  Established in 1978.
The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) currently aims to vaccinate
• Approximately Six million children aged 0-11 months against nine deadly Vaccine
Preventable Diseases (VPDs)
1. Childhood Tuberculosis
2. Poliomyelitis
3. Diphtheria
4. Pertussis
5. Neonatal Tetanus
6. Hepatitis B
7. Hemophilus Influenza Type b
8. Pneumonia
9. Measles
• And the pregnant women against Tetanus.

3. AGE Vaccine
At Birth BCG and OPV-0
6 Week Penta-I, Pneumo-I and OPV-I
10 Week Penta-II, Pneumo-II and OPV-II
14 Week Penta-III, Pneumo-III, IPV and OPV-III
9 Months Measles-I
15 Months Measles-II
IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE

4. AGE ANTIGEN DOSE Site of Administration
At Birth
BCG 0.05ml Intradermal on right upper arm
OPV-0 2 drops Oral
Hepatitis-B 0.5 ml
Intramuscular injection on antero-
lateral side of left thigh
6 weeks
Pentavalent-I 0.5 ml
Intramuscular injection on antero-
lateral side of right thigh
Pneumococcal-I 0.5 ml
Intramuscular injection on antero-
lateral side of left thigh
OPV-I 2 drops Oral
10 weeks
Pentavalent-II 0.5 ml
Intramuscular injection on antero-
lateral side of right thigh
Pneumococcal-II 0.5 ml
Intramuscular injection on antero-
lateral side of left thigh
OPV-II 2 drops Oral
14 weeks
Pentavalent-III 0.5 ml
Intramuscular injection on antero-
lateral side of right thigh
Pneumococcal-III 0.5 ml
Intramuscular injection on antero-
lateral side of left thigh
OPV-III 2 drops Oral
***IPV 0.5 ml
Intramuscular injection on antero-
lateral side of right thigh
9 months Measles-I 0.5 ml
Subcutaneous injection on left upper
arm

5. Cold chain
◦ Cold chain is a system of storing, transporting and distributing of vaccines in
the correct temperature and way from the factory to the vaccinated child.
◦ Cold chain is a corner stone of the EPI, because the vaccine loses the efficacy
if incorrectly kept.

6. EPI owns with pride an Effective Cold Chain by combining the following three
main elements to ensure proper vaccine transport, storage, and handling.
•Trained personnel
•Transport and storage equipment
•Efficient management procedures

7. Additionaly the following protocols are followed in the program: -
•All immunization providers are responsible for ensuring the vaccines they administer
have been correctly stored.
•All immunization providers storing vaccines must use a pharmaceutical refrigerator.
•All immunization providers must have an electronic temperature recording device.
•Each immunization providers must have a written cold chain management policy and
allocate overall responsibility for cold chain management (including temperature
monitoring) to a designated person(s).
•Immunization providers/clinics should review and update their cold chain management
policy on need basis.
•The vaccine refrigerator temperatures must be monitored and recorded on a daily basis.
The data loggers should be reviewed in accordance with the National Guidelines for
Vaccine Storage and Distribution.