Suvita: Providing Immunisation and Antenatal Care Reminders for Caregivers and Children

In the Maharashtra state, in India, 26.5% of children reach their first birthday without receiving all their recommended vaccinations resulting in a child dying every hour from vaccine-preventable diseases. In addition, 29.7% of pregnant women do not go for all four required antenatal care visits. These two statistics contribute to an additional estimated 12,000+ infant deaths and 200 maternal deaths each year.



While the supply of routine vaccines is well taken care of by the Indian government, the challenge now is on the demand side. In a nationwide survey, when explaining why their child had missed a vaccine dose, parents were four times more likely to identify demand-side barriers than supply-side ones. Another survey led by UNICEF, of nearly 40,000 caregivers of under-vaccinated children, found that the most common reason for missed appointments was a lack of awareness. With increased drop-offs caused by disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need to get childrens’ immunisation schedules back on track.