Child Vaccination Schedule in Nepal 2025–2026: Complete Guide for Parents

Vaccination is the single most effective public health intervention available for preventing childhood illness and death. Nepal’s National Immunization Program (NIP) protects children from 11 vaccine-preventable diseases free of cost, and several additional private vaccines extend that protection further.

What Is Nepal’s National Immunization Schedule for Children?

Nepal’s National Immunization Program follows a government-approved schedule providing free vaccines from birth to age 15 years at health facilities and hospitals. The core vaccines cover BCG, OPV, DPT-HepB-Hib pentavalent, PCV, measles-rubella, Japanese Encephalitis, and HPV for girls.

The full NIP schedule is as follows:

At Birth

• BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) — Protects against severe tuberculosis and TB meningitis. Single dose given intradermally at the left upper arm within 24 hours of birth.
• OPV-0 (Birth dose) — Oral poliovirus vaccine, zero dose at birth in facility deliveries.
• HepB-0 — Hepatitis B birth dose, given within 24 hours, dramatically reduces mother-to-child hepatitis B transmission.

At 6 Weeks (1.5 Months)

• Pentavalent-1 (DPT-HepB-Hib) — Combined vaccine against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type b.
• OPV-1 — Second polio dose.
• PCV-1 — Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, protects against the leading cause of bacterial pneumonia and meningitis.
• fIPV-1 — Fractional inactivated poliovirus vaccine (injected).

At 10 Weeks (2.5 Months)

• Pentavalent-2
• OPV-2
• PCV-2

At 14 Weeks (3.5 Months)

• Pentavalent-3
• OPV-3
• fIPV-2

At 9 Months

• Measles-Rubella (MR-1) — First dose. Protects against measles (a leading cause of childhood blindness and death in South Asia) and rubella (which causes congenital rubella syndrome in unborn children).
• JE (Japanese Encephalitis) — Single dose in endemic districts. Protects against mosquito-borne viral brain infection.
• Vitamin A — High-dose vitamin A supplementation begins at 9 months.

At 15 Months

• MR-2 — Measles-rubella booster dose for sustained protection.
• PCV booster

At 16–24 Months (DPT Booster)

• DPT booster — Reinforces diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus immunity.
• OPV booster

At 5 Years

• DPT booster (school entry dose)

At 10–12 Years (Girls Only — NIP)

• HPV vaccine — Two doses given in school-based programs. Protects against high-risk human papillomavirus strains responsible for cervical cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in Nepali women.

What Does Each NIP Vaccine Protect Against?

Understanding why each vaccine is given helps parents prioritize timely administration.

• BCG — Prevents miliary TB and TB meningitis in infants, both of which carry high mortality.
• Hepatitis B — Chronic hepatitis B leads to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Early vaccination prevents 90–95% of perinatal infections.
• Pentavalent — DPT prevents three potentially fatal bacterial diseases. Hib prevents a major cause of bacterial meningitis in children under 5.
• PCV — Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of pneumonia hospitalizations and deaths in Nepali children under 2.
• OPV/fIPV — Polio causes permanent paralysis. Nepal achieved polio-free status through sustained vaccination; maintaining this requires continued high coverage.
• Measles-Rubella — Measles in malnourished children carries a case fatality rate exceeding 10%. The MR vaccine is highly effective after two doses.
• JE — Japanese Encephalitis is endemic in Nepal’s Terai and inner Terai districts. It causes permanent neurological disability in survivors.

What Should Parents Do If Their Child Missed Vaccine Doses?

Missed vaccine doses should be caught up as soon as possible rather than restarting the schedule from scratch. Catch-up vaccination follows specific protocols depending on age and interval since the last dose.

General catch-up principles:

• Never restart a series — If pentavalent dose 2 was missed, give doses 2 and 3 at appropriate intervals; do not start over.
• Minimum intervals must be respected — OPV doses require a minimum 4-week interval. Pentavalent doses require 4-week minimum spacing.
• Maximum age limits apply — BCG given after 1 year provides reduced benefit; discuss with your pediatrician.
• Document every dose — Update the vaccination card at each visit. Lost cards should be reported to the health facility so the child’s record can be reconstructed.

A&B International Hospital’s pediatric department assists families in reviewing incomplete vaccination histories and creating individualized catch-up schedules.

Which Private Vaccines Are Available at A&B International Hospital?

Several vaccines not included in the NIP provide additional protection and are available privately at A&B International Hospital, Pokhara.

Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine

Two doses given at 12–15 months and 4–6 years. Chickenpox, while often mild, causes significant school absence, can lead to bacterial superinfection, and in immunocompromised children can be life-threatening.

HPV Vaccine (for Boys and Girls)

The NIP provides HPV vaccine only to girls in school programs. Private HPV vaccination is recommended for both boys and girls from age 9 onward. Boys benefit from protection against HPV-related cancers (throat, anal) and genital warts, and reduce transmission to partners.

Meningococcal Vaccine

Recommended for children traveling to meningitis belt countries (Sub-Saharan Africa), hajj pilgrims, and children with certain immune deficiencies. Protects against bacterial meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

Two doses from age 1 year. Hepatitis A transmission through contaminated food and water is common in Nepal. The vaccine provides lifelong protection.

Rotavirus Vaccine

Two or three oral doses from 6 weeks of age. Rotavirus is the leading cause of severe diarrhea requiring hospitalization in children under 5.

Which Travel Vaccines Does a Child Need Traveling from Nepal?

Nepali children traveling internationally may require vaccines beyond the NIP depending on the destination country.

• Yellow Fever — Required for entry into many Sub-Saharan African and South American countries. Not given under 6 months.
• Typhoid — Injectable typhoid vaccine from age 2 years. Oral form available from age 6. Recommended for travel to high-risk areas within and outside Nepal.
• Rabies pre-exposure — Three doses for children with significant animal exposure risk or traveling to regions with limited post-exposure prophylaxis access.
• Meningococcal — Required for Saudi Arabia (hajj/umrah). Also recommended for Sub-Saharan Africa travel.

Consult A&B International Hospital’s pediatric department at least 4–6 weeks before international travel to allow sufficient time for multi-dose courses and immune response development.

Book Your Child’s Vaccination Appointment in Pokhara

A&B International Hospital

Pokhara-02, Bindhyaabasini Way to Sarangkot

Phone: +977 061-412512

Website: abinthospital.com

NIP vaccines, private vaccines, catch-up schedules, and travel immunization — all available at A&B International Hospital, Pokhara. Keep your child’s vaccination card up to date. Call to book an appointment.