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What vaccines does my daughter need before she visits India?

Prof HPS Sachdeva
Prof HPS Sachdev,
Senior Consultant Pediatrics,
Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science and Research,
New Delhi

Q: My wife is travelling with our 10-month-old daughter and will be visiting India for almost six months. Our baby is taking enfamil milk in USA. She will be 1-year-old when she goes there. What can my wife substitute for the milk while on her visit to India? What kind of shots does my baby need for the trip?

A:I am not familiar with the composition of the milk that you mention. However, at the age of your child any commercially available infant milk substitute or even the milk consumed by the family should serve the purpose.Regarding vaccination, it will depend on the vaccines that the child has received and at what age and this information will need to be tailored with the current Indian recommendations on a one to one basis with a local paediatrician. Generally we give a measles shot at 9 months, MMR at 15 months, and DPT, OPV, Hib at 18 months (booster). In addition we prescribe all pulse polio vaccines.