About New Vaccine Introduction (NVI)

Since 2015, JSI India has served as the lead technical partner to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India (GoI), and all 36 States and Union Territories to strengthen the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). Through the UIP, the GoI provides these and other life-saving vaccines free of cost to an annual cohort of 26 million infants.

JSI India has been instrumental in supporting the introduction and national scale-up of several new vaccines. The Rotavirus vaccine (RVV) and Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) were introduced in 2016 and 2017, respectively, with RVV scaling up nationally by the end of 2019 and PCV by the end of 2021.

Building on this success, JSI India has supported the MoHFW since 2022 in preparing for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine rollout, backed by a global grant (HAPPI) from the Gates Foundation and a Technical Assistance (TA) grant from Gavi. This foundational preparedness culminated in the successful pan-India introduction of the HPV vaccine in February 2026.

Currently, JSI India is utilizing a Gavi TA grant to support the MoHFW in the planned rollout of the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV). As part of the New Vaccine Introduction (NVI) project, the team assisted the GoI in 2023 with critical evidence generation to strategize the TCV introduction timeframe- research that has since been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

To ensure high vaccine uptake, sustainable scale-up, and seamless product switches, JSI India provides catalytic techno-managerial support to augment health system capacity. This support is strategically focused on key thematic areas, including:

• Pre-introduction preparedness assessments
• Capacity building and trainings
• Macro- and micro-planning
• Development of technical guidelines and operational tools
• Concurrent monitoring and Post-Introduction Evaluations (PIE)

Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV)

As a lead techno-managerial partner to MoHFW, JSIPL introduced Rotavirus Vaccine in India between 2016 and 2019 in a phased manner. From 2016 to 2018, RVV was introduced in 11 states, covering 56.4% of India's birth cohort. Further, in 2019, JSIPL successfully spearheaded the enormous task of scaling up RVV across 25 remaining states/ UTs within a short span of 100 days (as part of the 100-day agenda of the then elected Government), covering the remaining cohort of 44.6%.

Comprehensive operational guidelines, detailed training packages, FAQs and communication materials were developed. Preparedness assessment was conducted by JSIPL to evaluate the state's readiness prior to the RVV scale up. Innovative training approaches - the station method, online pre- and post-tests, and hands-on training, were adopted to cascade training from the National ToT to State and District levels, eventually reaching frontline workers. A total of 5000 master trainers were created, who in turn trained around 43,700 medical officers, 28,000 cold chain handlers, 275,000 vaccinators and 1.9 million mobilizers. All these initiatives have now been successfully documented in peer reviewed journals and newsletters. Moreover, JSIPL developed an online, real-time, interactive dashboard for effective monitoring of RVV vaccination program.

As part of the mandate, JSIPL anchored the first ever Post-Introduction Evaluation (PIE) for RVV to assess its implementation using a digital tool. This was the largest PIE conducted globally, spanning across 14 states, 28 districts, by around 60 evaluators from 16 partner organizations. Additionally, JSIPL has been assisting MoHFW and state governments in the multiple RVV product switches since 2018 through development of technical materials - training presentations, job aids and videos. JSIPL's continuous commitment to providing high-quality support in record time has strengthened its position as a valued partner at both central and state levels, contributing to RVV3 coverage reaching 92% (WUENIC, 2025).

Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV)

Building on its prior experience and strong institutional memory, JSIPL, as the lead technical partner to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and state governments, provided technical assistance for the PCV scale up in 2021, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic across 31 states/UTs, covering 50.4% of India's birth cohort. Comprehensive Operational Guidelines, detailed training packages, FAQs and communication materials were developed. JSI India utilized novel approaches to overcome the challenges put forth by the then ongoing pandemic. These included development of an online, user-friendly, real-time tool - PROMPT - for preparedness assessment of states and districts, and the hybrid trainings for capacity building of healthcare workforce. Furthermore, as an adjunct to the trainings, animated videos based on FAQs were developed and disseminated in 13 languages across the country. Through the trainings, 32,000 medical officers, 20,000 cold-chain handlers, and more than 150,000 vaccinators were trained for PCV introduction.

To ensure effective program monitoring, data triangulation, and easy visualization, JSIPL developed an online, real-time, interactive dashboard for the PCV vaccination program, providing the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and other stakeholders with access to plan and monitor interventions more effectively. As part of sustained efforts, JSIPL assisted states during two subsequent PCV product switches - PCV13→PCV10 in 2021 and PCV10→PCV14 in 2024-25 - through the development of technical materials such as training presentations and job aids, strengthening the capacity of state officials, and providing field monitoring support. These efforts ensured programme continuity, minimized stockouts, and sustained high acceptance, with PCV booster coverage in WUENIC 2025 reaching 95%.

HPV Vaccine (HPVV)

Building on its extensive immunization experience, JSI India served as the lead technical partner to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and state governments to spearhead the pan-India rollout of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in February 2026. Prior to the launch, JSI India conducted an extensive evidence review to inform the introduction strategy, resulting in two peer-reviewed journal publications. To ensure a seamless rollout, the team supported the MoHFW in developing comprehensive Operational Guidelines and training materials, subsequently conducting 15 regional and state-level Training of Trainers (ToTs) that established a pool of 1,371 master trainers.

This initiative marked the first time District Program Managers across all 36 States and Union Territories were formally trained, facilitating cascade trainings that equipped over 13.65 lakh healthcare personnel nationwide. Furthermore, JSI India drove digital innovation by developing a readiness assessment tool and a user-friendly dashboard for real-time data visualization, while ensuring successful on-ground implementation through the deployment of State Teams and Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) for continuous post-launch supportive supervision and field monitoring.

Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV)

Through its National Vaccine Introduction (NVI) vertical, JSIPL has been a trusted technical partner to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in generating high-quality evidence to inform vaccine policy decisions for immunization in India. In alignment with the NTAGI recommendation for introducing Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine (TCV) under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), the Immunization Division requested JSIPL to generate context-specific evidence on the feasibility and acceptability of administering multiple injectable vaccines in a single visit.

In 2023, JSIPL conducted a two-phased mixed-methods study that included - first, a scoping review to consolidate available national and global evidence; and second, extensive primary data collection across eight states - Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, covering one district in each state, one planning unit per district, and two session sites per unit. The study engaged 1,140 caregivers through telephonic surveys, alongside key informant interviews with program managers and providers, and focus group discussions with caregivers and frontline workers, to capture community and provider perspectives on the feasibility of multiple injectable vaccines in a single visit. The findings have been published in a peer-reviewed journal, providing critical context-specific insights to MoHFW for the future introduction of additional injectable vaccines under UIP, with a focus on planning TCV rollout in India. In addition, JSIPL continues to provide strategic advisory support through NVI and ITSU as part of the TCV Operational Group, demonstrating its expertise to translate evidence into actionable strategies.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections in children under five worldwide, with 95% of the 33 million annual global episodes occurring in lower-middle-income countries. The burden is particularly acute in India, where millions of respiratory infections lead to substantial hospitalizations and fatalities each year. To combat this critical public health challenge, maternal RSV vaccination has emerged as a highly promising and cost-effective intervention to protect infants during their most vulnerable first months of life. While integrating new maternal vaccines into India’s Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) presents logistical challenges in a diverse and resource-constrained setting, JSI India is actively contributing to the evidence base needed to guide future policy. To support strategic decision-making and preparedness for the potential introduction of the maternal RSV vaccine, JSI India has authored two publications detailing these critical insights and implementation strategies.

Miscellaneous immunization topics

This section houses a focused collection of cross-cutting research and supplementary materials that support broader immunization goals. It features a curated set of key peer-reviewed publications and evidence reviews that have been instrumental in guiding national vaccine introduction strategies. Explore these resources to gain a holistic view of JSI India’s comprehensive techno-managerial support across the Universal Immunization Programme.