Publication

Childhood immunization, mortality and human capital accumulation: Micro-evidence from India

Authored by:

Kumar, S.

Full Citation

Kumar, S. 2009. Childhood immunization, mortality and human capital accumulation: Micro-evidence from India. University of Houston: Harvard Centre for Population and Development Studies. Working paper.

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Additional key concepts from this publication:

Vaccination can help improve the equity in access to health for the poor.

Key Evidence: The Indian government childhood immunization program, UIP, designed in the 1980s to reduce the high mortality and morbidity in children, resulted in reduced infant mortality by 0.4% percentage points and under-5 mortality by 0.5%. These effects on mortality are sizable as they account for approximately one-fifth of the decline in infant and under-five child mortality rates between 1985-1990. The effects are more pronounced in rural area, for poor people, and for members of historically disadvantaged groups. The 0.5% reduction each year over 5 years (from 15% under-5 mortality in 1985 to 12.3% in 1990), represents an 18% reduction overall in under-5 mortality.

Averting illness through immunization has the potential to increase productivity.

Key Evidence: In the mid-1980s, the Indian government examined the effect of their universal immunization program on child mortality and educational attainment. Results indicate that exposure to the program reduced infant mortality by 0.4 percentage points and under five child mortality by 0.5 percentage points. These effects on mortality account for approximately one-fifth of the decline in infant and under five child mortality rates between 1985-1990. The effects are more pronounced in rural areas, for poor people, and for members of historically disadvantaged groups.