Birth-to-teen Shots Free in Telangana

Hyderabad: The government is providing over a dozen life-saving vaccines free of cost through the health department, ensuring protection for children from birth through adolescence. While these vaccines are completely free in government facilities, their cost in private hospitals ranges between Rs 200 and Rs 9,000 per dose, depending on the vaccine type.

Hyderabad collector Harichandana Dasari told Deccan Chronicle that Telangana maintains high immunisation coverage through awareness drives, door-to-door campaigns, and close monitoring by ASHA and ANM workers. “Awareness should not only be about polio but about all vaccines available at UPHCs. Vulnerable parents spend thousands in private hospitals — if they trust government facilities for polio, they can do the same for other vaccines as well,” she said.

Immunisation officer Puppala Sridhar explained that vaccines are administered every Wednesday and Saturday in the city. “All vaccines are stored at cold chain points across 91 UPHCs and are also available at major government hospitals such as Gandhi, Osmania, King Koti, and Niloufer. The immunisation programme is uniform across all districts in Telangana,” he said.

Five vaccines — for flu, typhoid, hepatitis A, chickenpox, and meningococcal — are not available in the government sector. Private hospitals offer optional vaccines beyond the government schedule.

Dr Aparna C., clinical director of neonatology and head of NICU at KIMS Cuddles, Kondapur, said, “We advise parents on additional vaccines for influenza (6-7 months), typhoid (6–9 months), hepatitis A, chickenpox, and meningococcal. The government provides the MR vaccine, while private hospitals offer the MMR vaccine. We also educate mothers about vaccination schedules soon after delivery so they can plan accordingly.”

She added that while some parents forget their children’s vaccine schedules, education and awareness are helping them return to check if missed vaccines can still be administered. She further highlighted that the cervical cancer vaccine is currently gaining awareness and acceptance among parents.

What the government provides

Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine against TB

Oral polio vaccine (OPV)

Vaccine against Hepatitis B.

Pentavalent vaccine (five-in-one vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough).

hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae Type B (Hib).

Rotavirus (gastroenteritis).

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) against pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis,

Vaccine against measles-rubella (MR).

Vaccines are available with urban primary health centres (UPHCs) and tertiary government hospitals

Booster doses and additional vaccines also available.