Under the National Immunization Schedule, the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) was introduced in India's UIP. The schedule currently recommended for PCV is:
- A 2 primary doses at 6 and 14 weeks with a booster at 9 months ✓
- B 3 doses at 6, 10, 14 weeks with no booster
- C 2 primary doses at 6 and 10 weeks with a booster at 9–12 months
- D Single dose at 9 months with DTP booster
Correct answer: A. 2 primary doses at 6 and 14 weeks with a booster at 9 months
Explanation
India's UIP introduced PCV-13 initially in select states with a 2+1 schedule (2 primary doses + 1 booster). The currently recommended national schedule is 2 primary doses at 6 weeks and 14 weeks, with a booster dose at 9 months — a 2p+1 schedule (also written as 6w, 14w, 9m). This schedule is part of the phased national rollout under UIP. The 3-dose (6, 10, 14 weeks) schedule without booster was used in some earlier WHO recommendations, but the 2+1 schedule with booster at 9 months is the current Indian NIS recommendation.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.