How many vaccines are recommended to be given at birth?

Appeared in: NHM MP Staff Nurse-2019

Explanation

The National Immunization Schedule (NIS) of India specifies a set of vaccines to be given at birth.
There are three vaccines included in this schedule for newborns.
These vaccines are: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), the zeroth dose of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV-0), and the birth dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine.
BCG protects against severe forms of childhood tuberculosis, OPV-0 begins protection against polio, and the Hepatitis B birth dose is critical for preventing mother-to-child transmission of the virus.

Option B: This is incorrect. Selecting '2' would mean omitting one of the three crucial vaccines (BCG, OPV-0, or Hepatitis B) recommended at birth, leaving the infant unprotected against a key disease.
Option C: This is incorrect. The standard NIS schedule does not include a fourth vaccine at birth. Additional vaccines are introduced later, starting at 6 weeks of age.
Option D: This is incorrect. While BCG, for example, is a single vaccine, the schedule includes two others (OPV-0 and Hep B) to be given at the same time.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Knowledge of the National Immunization Schedule (NIS) for newborns in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
A nurse's primary role in maternal and child health includes ensuring timely and correct administration of vaccines as per the national schedule to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs).
The Hepatitis B birth dose is extremely time-sensitive. It should be given as early as possible, preferably within 24 hours of birth, to prevent perinatal transmission from an infected mother to her baby.
What if a baby is born at home and brought to the clinic on the third day of life? The nurse should administer all three birth doses. While the Hepatitis B vaccine is most effective within 24 hours, it can still be given. BCG can be given up to 1 year of age, and OPV-0 is recommended within the first 15 days.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key phrases in the question: 'how many vaccines' and 'at birth'.
This is a factual recall question that requires knowledge of the standard immunization protocol.
Recall the National Immunization Schedule (NIS) for newborns in India.
Mentally list the vaccines given at birth: 1. BCG, 2. OPV-0, 3. Hepatitis B.
Count the number of vaccines in your list, which is three.
Compare your count with the given options and select the one that matches.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Knowledge of the National Immunization Schedule (NIS) for newborns in India.
Stem keywords: vaccines, at birth, recommended
Lead-in keywords: How many

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E6 Ghai Essential Pediatrics(pp 26-904 of 913) p. 189-191

E6 Comprehensive Textbook of Community Health NursingShyamala D part 1 (pp 26-389 of 389) p. 37-39

Practise the full NHM MP Staff Nurse-2019

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.