What immunization is given at birth?

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-3rd)

Explanation

The BCG vaccine is administered at birth as per the National Immunization Schedule (NIS) in India.
It is given to protect infants from severe forms of childhood tuberculosis, like TB meningitis.
The standard schedule recommends giving BCG, Hepatitis B (birth dose), and the zero dose of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV-0) at birth.

Option B: The Hepatitis A vaccine is not a birth dose. It is typically recommended for children after their first birthday.
Option C: The DPT vaccine is part of the primary infant series that begins at 6 weeks of age, not at birth.
Option D: The MMR vaccine is given later in infancy because maternal antibodies can interfere with the vaccine's effectiveness if given too early.

Visual 1: Infographic - A chart of the National Immunization Schedule (NIS) for infants and children in India. This would visually lay out the timeline for all mandatory vaccines, making it easy to see which are given at birth versus later.
Visual 2: Diagram - An illustration showing the correct intradermal administration technique for the BCG vaccine on an infant's left upper arm, highlighting the formation of a wheal.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain National Immunization Schedule at Birth as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Administering birth dose vaccines (BCG, Hep B, OPV-0) is a critical nursing responsibility to protect vulnerable newborns from life-threatening diseases right from the start.
Nurses must educate parents about the immunization schedule, the importance of each vaccine, and the expected normal reactions (like the BCG scar) versus adverse effects that need reporting.
Accurate documentation of vaccination, including the date, site, and batch number, is crucial for public health tracking and ensuring the child completes their immunization series.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which is asking for a specific vaccine given at a specific time ('at birth'). This is a factual recall question.
Access your knowledge of the National Immunization Schedule (NIS). Mentally list the vaccines given at birth: BCG, Hepatitis B, and OPV (zero dose).
Scan the options provided: BCG, Hepatitis A, DPT, MMR.
Compare your mental list with the options. BCG is on your list and is present as an option.
Briefly review the other options to confirm they are incorrect. Recall that DPT starts at 6 weeks, MMR at 9 months, and Hepatitis A is given much later.
This confirms that BCG is the only correct option among the choices for an immunization given at birth.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Qjy90tp-zoRrGUNX99XPj6

Practise the full RRB Nsg. Superintendent-20 July 2019 (Shift-3rd)

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