As per the Universal Immunization Program, the first dose of Vitamin A should be given to a child at the age… - Haryana CHO -2023

Haryana CHO -2023

Community Health Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: Haryana CHO -2023

Explanation

According to the National Immunization Schedule (NIS) in India, the first dose of Vitamin A is administered at 9 completed months of age.
This is strategically timed to coincide with the administration of the first dose of the Measles-Rubella (MR) vaccine to improve program coverage and compliance.
The recommended first dose is 1 ml, which contains 100,000 International Units (1 lakh IU), given orally.

Option A: At 2 months (or 6 weeks), the infant receives the first doses of Pentavalent vaccine, Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV), and Rotavirus vaccine, but Vitamin A is not scheduled.
Option B: At 6 months, the infant has completed the primary series of Pentavalent, OPV, and Rotavirus vaccines. Vitamin A supplementation does not begin at this age under the national schedule.
Option D: While a child who missed the 9-month dose can receive it at 12 months as part of a catch-up schedule, it is not the recommended age for the first dose in the routine immunization program.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Vitamin A Prophylaxis Schedule under Universal Immunization Program (UIP) to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Vitamin A is crucial for vision, immune function, and growth. The prophylaxis program is a key public health strategy to prevent xerophthalmia (nutritional blindness) and reduce morbidity and mortality from common childhood infections like diarrhoea and measles.
Linking the first Vitamin A dose with the 9-month MR vaccine is a highly effective strategy. It improves compliance and ensures a wider reach, as parents are already bringing the child for a scheduled vaccination.
A nurse must counsel parents on the importance of completing the full Vitamin A schedule (total of 9 doses by age 5) to ensure long-term protection.

How to Approach the Question

This is a direct recall question based on a national health program.
First, identify the key components of the question: 'Universal Immunization Program', 'first dose', and 'Vitamin A'.
Recall the National Immunization Schedule (NIS) for India, specifically focusing on the timeline for infants.
Mentally map out the vaccines given at different age points (Birth, 6/10/14 weeks, 9 months, 16-24 months).
Remember that the 9-month visit is a key milestone for the Measles/MR vaccine, and Vitamin A supplementation is initiated at the same time.
Compare this knowledge with the given options to select the correct age.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Vitamin A Prophylaxis Schedule under Universal Immunization Program (UIP)
Stem keywords: Universal Immunization Program, first dose, Vitamin A, child
Lead-in keywords: age of
Clinical cues: Age/sex group narrows the expected diagnosis, intervention, or normal reference range.
Negative lead-in flag: false

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