PHC has no vaccine? Use RTI to ask why

Your baby is due for the measles-rubella shot. You walk to the primary health centre (PHC). The nurse shakes her head: “Stock nahi hai, next week aana.” (No stock, come next week.) You go back next week. Same answer. You wonder: is the vaccine really short, or is it sitting unused in a broken fridge? Is the cold chain (the temperature-controlled storage that keeps vaccines safe) even working?

You are not alone. India gives free vaccines to 2.67 crore newborns and 2.9 crore pregnant women every year under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). Yet stock-outs and cold-chain breaks still leave children unprotected. The good news: the government runs a digital system that tracks every vial, called eVIN. You cannot query eVIN yourself, but you can use the Right to Information (RTI) Act to ask for extracts of it — the same way you can file an RTI for government hospital records. If you are new to the process, see our RTI for beginners guide. This page shows you how, step by step, in plain words.

India runs two separate digital systems for vaccines. Knowing the difference is the key to a good RTI.

• eVIN (Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network) is the stock and cold-chain system. It tracks how many vials each cold-chain point holds, at what temperature, and when stock runs out. It is live across all 733 districts, 36 states and UTs, 29,000+ cold-chain points, with about 25,000 temperature loggers and over 99% vaccine availability. eVIN is internal to the government — you cannot look it up online. This is what your RTI asks for.
• U-WIN is the beneficiary registry — it records which child or pregnant woman got which shot. As of February 2026 it has registered 11.12 crore children and 3.78 crore pregnant women, issues QR-based certificates, and links with ABDM, the POSHAN Tracker and SAFEVAC. Use U-WIN to check your own child's record and the coverage baseline. Do not ask U-WIN for stock data — it does not hold it.

A common mistake is to mix the two. Remember: U-WIN = who got the shot. eVIN = where the vial is. Your RTI targets eVIN.

In June 2021, the Centre asked states not to share eVIN data on vaccine stocks and storage temperature publicly, calling it sensitive and for programme use only. This is the policy wall you are pushing against.

But there is a real, citable court decision on your side. In Saurav Das vs Department of Health & Family Welfare (CIC/MOHFW/A/2021/622519, decided 23 July 2024), the Central Information Commission held that the Ministry's blanket denial under Section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act was not justified. The Commission directed the CPIO to give a revised point-wise reply, to sever exempt parts under Section 10, and to make suo-motu disclosure under Section 4.

The lesson: do not file one vague question. Break your RTI into clear, numbered points. That makes a blanket refusal harder to defend, and lets the PIO sever only the truly exempt bits while releasing the rest.

The broader rights backdrop is PUCL v. Union of India (2001) (Supreme Court Writ Petition (Civil) No. 196 of 2001) — the right-to-food case that anchors the right to live with dignity under Article 21, read with Article 47 (the State's duty to raise nutrition and improve public health). It is not a vaccine-specific ruling, but it is the constitutional soil the right to immunization grows from.

1. Check your child's record on U-WIN so you know which vaccine and date you are asking about.
2. Note the PHC name, block, and district, and the vaccine name (BCG, OPV, Pentavalent, MR, PCV, etc.).
3. Write down each stock-out date you experienced — exact dates make your RTI sharp.

Vaccines are a state subject delivered through the state health department. So your public authority is the state health setup, not a central office. (Confused about central versus state jurisdictions? See state vs central RTI explained.)

1. Primary addressee: the Block Medical Officer (BMO) — the BMO runs the PHC and holds the block-level stock and cold-chain records.
2. Second addressee: the District Magistrate (DM) / Collector — the DM supervises the district health machinery and the cold-chain point network.
3. For COVID-19 vaccine questions, note that COVID vaccines (COVAXIN, Covishield, etc.) are NOT part of UIP as of 2026 — they remain CDSCO-approved under restricted/emergency-use provisions. So ask the MoHFW CPIO under the CDSCO / NEGVAC framework, not the UIP route. The same Saurav Das decision supports a point-wise ask here.

You can also file online — see how to file an RTI online for the central and state portals.

1. Rs 10 is the central government application fee.
2. State fees vary — some states charge Rs 10, some Rs 20, some nothing. Because the BMO and DM are state public authorities, check your state RTI rules for the exact fee and mode (IPO, court-fee stamp, cash, or treasury challan). Our state-wise RTI fee chart has the details for every state. See also how BPL families can claim an RTI fee waiver.
3. BPL applicants are exempt from the fee under Section 7(5) of the RTI Act. If the PIO wrongly charges a BPL applicant, a Section 20 penalty complaint can be filed against the PIO.

Use the template below. Keep it point-wise — that is what won in Saurav Das. You can also use our RTI form format guide or the RTI Query Builder tool to generate a custom draft.

To: The Public Information Officer
    Office of the Block Medical Officer, [Block], [District], [State]
    (Send a duplicate copy to the District Magistrate, [District])

Subject: Application under Section 6, RTI Act 2005 — Vaccine stock
        and cold-chain status at [PHC name] for the period [from-to dates]

1. Certified extract of the eVIN stock register for [PHC name]
   showing, vaccine-wise, opening balance, receipts, issues, and
   closing balance for [period].
2. Certified copy of the cold-chain temperature log (ILR +2C to +8C
   and Deep Freezer -15C to -25C) for [PHC name] for [period],
   including twice-daily readings on holidays.
3. Statement of indent (demand) raised vs supply received for each
   vaccine at [PHC name] for [period].
4. List of stock-out days (vaccine-wise) with date stock ran out and
   date supply resumed.
5. Drop-out tracking: number of children due vs number vaccinated,
   vaccine-wise, for [period].
6. Any VVM (Vaccine Vial Monitor) rejection or Shake Test failure
   record for [period].

Fee: Rs [amount] by [mode], as per the [State] RTI Rules.
     (BPL applicant — fee exempt under Section 7(5).)

Date: [..]          Signature: [..]
Name: [..]          Address: [..]

• Stock register (point 1): tells you whether the vials ever reached the PHC, or were diverted/sitting at a higher store.
• Cold-chain log (point 2): vaccines must stay at +2C to +8C in an Ice-Lined Refrigerator (ILR) and -15C to -25C in a Deep Freezer. Temperature is recorded twice daily, including holidays. If the log shows a break, the vaccine may have lost potency even if “in stock” — a hidden stock-out.
• Indent vs supply (point 3): shows whether the PHC asked and the district did not send, or the PHC never asked.
• Stock-out days (point 4): the hard dates you can take to a grievance or court later.
• Drop-out tracking (point 5): shows how many children were left unprotected — the human cost.
• VVM / Shake Test (point 6): a VVM is a small label on the vial that changes colour when heat exposure is too high; a Shake Test checks whether a freeze-sensitive vaccine was frozen and spoiled. Rejection or failure means vials were discarded.

The NHM Immunization Handbook for Health Workers sets the standards your RTI is checking against:

1. Storage: +2C to +8C in ILR; -15C to -25C in Deep Freezer.
2. Temperature recorded twice daily, including holidays.
3. EEFO (Early Expiry First Out) — issue the soonest-expiring vial first.
4. Open Vial Policy: OPV, DPT, TT, HepB, Pentavalent, PCV, IPV can be reused within 28 days of opening; BCG, MR, RVV, JE must be used within 4 hours of reconstitution.
5. VVM check before every use; Shake Test for freeze-sensitive vaccines.

Mentioning these standards in your RTI shows you know the rules — it nudges the PIO toward a serious reply.

1. Do not ask for child-wise vaccination records. That is beneficiary data and can be refused under Section 8(1)(j) (personal privacy). Ask for aggregate, anonymised drop-out numbers instead. For a full list of exemptions, see Section 8 RTI exemptions explained.
2. Do not skip the cold-chain ask. “In stock” means nothing if the cold chain broke — the vaccine may be useless. If you suspect cold-chain failure caused harm, see RTI for medical negligence enquiry.
3. Do not confuse U-WIN with eVIN. U-WIN is your child's record; eVIN is the stock system. Name eVIN in your RTI.
4. Do not write one vague line like “give vaccine stock details.” Break it into points 1-6 above.
5. Do not pay the wrong fee. Check your state RTI rules for the BMO/DM, not the flat central Rs 10.

1. **Wait 30 days.** Under **Section 7(1)** the PIO must reply within **30 days** (48 hours where life or liberty is involved — a stock-out affecting your baby arguably qualifies, so you can press this).
2. **First Appeal.** No reply or a bad reply? File a **First Appeal under Section 19(1)** with the **first appellate authority** (usually the Chief Medical Officer / District Health Officer) within **30 days** of the reply deadline. See [[rti-first-appeal-guide|RTI first appeal guide]] for the process.
3. **Second Appeal.** Still unsatisfied? File a **Second Appeal under Section 19(3)** to the **State Information Commission**. See [[rti-second-appeal-cic-sic|RTI second appeal to CIC/SIC]].
4. **Pair with a grievance.** While the RTI runs, file a grievance with the **CMO / Chief Minister's grievance cell** asking for immediate supply. RTI gets you the **proof**; the grievance gets you the **vaccine**.
5. **Last resort — court.** With the RTI reply and the cold-chain log as proof, you can approach the **High Court** under Article 226. See [[rti-writ-petition-high-court-article-226-after-cic-sic-order|RTI writ petition under Article 226]].

For the general filing and appeal mechanics, see how to file an RTI and the 2026 RTI application format guide.

1. Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) under the National Health Mission provides free vaccination against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases — 9 national (TB/BCG, Hepatitis B, Polio, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Measles-Rubella, Hib via Pentavalent, Pneumococcal) and 3 sub-national (Rotavirus, Japanese Encephalitis, PCV expansion). See the NHM UIP page.
2. Mission Indradhanush, launched December 2014, aims to raise full immunization to 90%. The latest completed round is IMI 5.0 (2023) — three rounds in Aug/Sep/Oct 2023, all districts, children up to 5 years. Cumulatively 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women have been vaccinated. No phase beyond IMI 5.0 has been officially launched as of the December 2024 MoHFW update. If your child was missed during a Mission Indradhanush round, see our RTI for government scheme delay guide.
3. The Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1940 (Schedule M, CDSCO Good Distribution Practice) governs vaccine quality and manufacture — it is not your main RTI basis, but you can cite it as the quality standard the cold chain must meet.

Some practical questions come up often when filing a vaccine-stock RTI. The sections below address the most common ones — from finding the right PIO to challenging a wrongful denial.

Filing a vaccine-stock RTI is straightforward once you know the steps. Here is the complete process:

1. Identify the PIO. For a PHC, this is the Block Medical Officer (BMO). Send a duplicate to the District Magistrate or Chief Medical Officer. If you cannot find the BMO's name, the RTI Act allows you to simply write “To the Public Information Officer, Office of the BMO, [Block], [District]” — the office must route it internally. You can also file online through RTI Online for central government bodies, or your state's online RTI portal — see our state RTI portals directory for links.
2. Attach the correct fee. State fees vary — check the state-wise fee chart. BPL families file free under Section 7(5) fee waiver rules.
3. Use the point-wise template (Step 4 above). Point-wise questions are what won the Saurav Das case — they force the PIO to answer each question individually rather than issuing a blanket refusal.
4. Submit by speed post, hand delivery, or online. Keep the acknowledgement. If filing by post, use Speed Post and keep the tracking receipt — it is your proof of filing date.

A practical tip: file the RTI to the BMO, but simultaneously file a grievance with the District Health Society or CMO asking for immediate vaccine supply. The RTI gets you the data; the grievance gets your child vaccinated.

A cold-chain break is when vaccines are stored outside the safe temperature range (+2°C to +8°C for most vaccines, -15°C to -25°C for deep-frozen ones). When this happens, the vaccine may lose potency even though it is technically “in stock” — the worst kind of stock-out, because parents believe their child was protected when they were not.

Your RTI should ask for the cold-chain temperature log — it records the ILR and Deep Freezer temperatures twice daily, including on holidays. Here is what to look for in the reply:

If the temperature log shows a cold-chain break and your child received a vaccine during that period, consult a paediatrician about revaccination. For related health-record RTI strategies, see our guide to RTI for blood bank records (similar cold-chain documentation) or RTI for medical negligence enquiry.

This is the single most common point of confusion. Filing your RTI against the wrong system wastes 30 days. Here is the distinction:

Key takeaway: Your RTI for vaccine stock should name eVIN specifically and ask for the stock register, temperature log, and indent-vs-supply records. Do not ask U-WIN for stock data — it does not hold it. If you want to understand what other types of information you can request, see what information can RTI get.

Because vaccines are delivered through state health departments, your RTI fee follows state rules — not the flat central Rs 10. Here is a quick reference for major states:

Notes:

1. BPL applicants file free in every state under Section 7(5) of the RTI Act. See how to claim the BPL fee waiver.
2. Fees and modes may change — always verify at your state's RTI portal or check our complete state-wise RTI fee chart.
3. Some states accept online payment via their e-RTI portals. See the state RTI portals directory for direct links.
4. Central government PIOs (e.g., MoHFW for COVID vaccine queries) charge Rs 10 — file via RTI Online.

Yes, the PIO may try — but the Saurav Das decision says they cannot issue a blanket refusal. Here is what to know:

Section 8(1)(a) exempts information whose disclosure would prejudicially affect the sovereignty, integrity, security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State or its relation with a foreign State. The Ministry of Health had argued that vaccine stock and temperature data is “sensitive” and falls under this exemption.

But the Central Information Commission disagreed. In Saurav Das vs Dept. of Health & FW (CIC/MOHFW/A/2021/622519, decided 23 July 2024), the CIC held:

1. A blanket denial under Section 8(1)(a) is not justified for eVIN data.
2. The CPIO must give a revised, point-wise reply answering each question individually.
3. If any specific point is genuinely exempt, the PIO must sever only that part under Section 10 and release the rest.
4. The Ministry should also make suo-motu disclosure under Section 4(2) of routine stock data.

What this means for you: If the PIO cites Section 8(1)(a) and refuses everything, that is exactly the scenario the CIC ruled against. File a First Appeal citing the Saurav Das order number. You can also file an RTI Section 18 complaint to the CIC/SIC directly. For the full list of exemptions and how to challenge them, see Section 8 RTI exemptions explained.

The full CIC order is available on the Central Information Commission website.

Before filing an RTI, you can try these online resources to check vaccine availability and coverage:

1. U-WIN portal: Check your child's vaccination record and coverage at the NHA/U-WIN portal. This tells you if your child's doses are recorded — if they are not, the PHC may not have had stock.
2. HMIS (Health Management Information System): The HMIS portal publishes district-level health indicators including immunization coverage rates. Look for your district's monthly reports.
3. RTI as a data tool: If the online portals show gaps or are not updated, that itself is grounds for an RTI. Under Section 4, public authorities must proactively publish such data; the absence of it is a Section 4(2) violation you can cite in your application. See our guide to RTI for missing government files for the approach when records seem to have vanished.

Different exemptions apply to different parts of your vaccine-stock RTI. Here is how to handle each:

Strategy: Always ask for aggregate, anonymised data. Instead of “list the names of children who missed vaccines,” ask “how many children due for the MR vaccine in [month] were not vaccinated at [PHC].” The former triggers Section 8(1)(j); the latter does not. See Section 8 exemptions explained for the complete exemption framework.

For deeper legal analysis of how the DPDP Act 2023 intersects with Section 8(1)(j) after the 2025 amendment — which affects what constitutes “personal information” in health data — see our article on DPDP Rules 2025 and the RTI Act.

• Q: Can I ask for AEFI (Adverse Event Following Immunization) records? Yes — ask for the AEFI register in anonymised, aggregate form (number of cases, type, outcome), not names of children.
• Q: Are COVID-19 vaccines covered under the UIP RTI route? No. COVID vaccines are not part of UIP as of 2026; they are CDSCO-approved under restricted/emergency-use. Ask the MoHFW CPIO under the CDSCO / NEGVAC framework, point-wise, as the Saurav Das decision allows.
• Q: The PIO says eVIN data is “sensitive” and refuses. What now? Cite Saurav Das (CIC/MOHFW/A/2021/622519, 23 July 2024) — the CIC held a blanket Section 8(1)(a) denial unjustified and ordered a point-wise reply with severance under Section 10. File the First Appeal.
• Q: Can I file the RTI on behalf of my neighbour or relative? Yes. Under Section 6(1), any citizen can file. You can file for a family member, neighbour, or friend. You do not need a power of attorney. Just state your relationship to the child in the application.
• Q: My family has a BPL card. Can we file free? Yes — BPL applicants are exempt from the application fee under Section 7(5) of the RTI Act in every state. Attach a copy of the BPL/ration card. See how BPL families claim the RTI fee waiver.
• Q: Can I ask for the reply in electronic (digital) format? Yes. Under Section 7(9), if the information is available in electronic form, you can request it on a CD, USB drive, or by email. Mention “Please provide the information in electronic format (CD/email)” in your application. This is especially useful for temperature logs, which are long tables.
• Q: What if the PIO does not reply at all within 30 days? If no reply comes within 30 days, the RTI Act treats this as a deemed refusal. You can file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) directly — you do not need to wait further. See the first appeal guide. You can also file a Section 18 complaint to the State Information Commission. See Section 18 complaint to CIC/SIC.
• Q: Can I file the second appeal to the CIC, or only the SIC? Vaccine stock is a state subject, so the second appeal goes to your State Information Commission (SIC). The Central Information Commission (CIC) handles appeals against central government bodies like MoHFW. For the full process, see RTI second appeal to CIC/SIC.

• RTI for drug stock at a government hospital
• How to file an RTI online in India
• RTI application format guide 2026
• RTI for government hospitals
• RTI first appeal guide
• Section 8 RTI exemptions explained
• RTI fees by state
• RTI for blood bank records
• RTI for medical negligence enquiry
• CIC order on vaccination records
• How to file RTI in India
• RTI for beginners

1. MoHFW — U-WIN immunization coverage update (Feb 2026): 11.12 crore children, 3.78 crore pregnant women registered; integrated with ABDM/POSHAN/SAFEVAC. https://www.mohfw.gov.in/?q=en%2Fpressrelease%2Fupdate-universal-immunization-coverage
2. UNDP — eVIN project page: 733 districts, 29,000+ cold-chain points, ~25,000 temperature loggers, >99% availability, >80% stock-out reduction. https://www.undp.org/india/projects/improving-vaccination-systems-evin
3. NHM — Universal Immunization Programme: 12 diseases, free vaccination. https://nhm.gov.in/index1.php?lang=1&level=2&lid=220&sublinkid=824
4. MoHFW/PIB — Mission Indradhanush update (Dec 2024): launched 2014, IMI 5.0 (2023), 5.46 crore children vaccinated. https://www.mohfw.gov.in/?q=en%2Fpressrelease-168
5. PIB — Intensified Mission Indradhanush 5.0 rounds and coverage data (2023). https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1953853
6. NHM — Immunization Handbook for Health Workers (cold-chain standards). https://nhm.gov.in/New_Updates_2018/NHM_Components/Immunization/Guildelines_for_immunization/Immunization_Handbook_for_Health_Workers-English.pdf
7. Indian Kanoon — Saurav Das vs Dept of Health & FW, CIC/MOHFW/A/2021/622519, 23 July 2024. http://indiankanoon.org/doc/43411264/
8. Central Information Commission — Orders and decisions database. https://cic.gov.in
9. DOPRT (Department of Personnel & Training) — RTI Act rules and fee structure (DoP&T O.M. No. 34012/13/2008-Estt.(B)). https://dopt.gov.in
10. RTI Online — Central government online RTI filing portal. https://rtionline.gov.in
11. National Health Authority (NHA) — U-WIN portal and ABDM integration. https://nha.gov.in
12. HMIS — District-level health indicators and immunization coverage data. https://hmis.nic.in
13. Global Health Rights Database — PUCL v. Union of India (2001), SC WP(C) 196/2001. https://www.globalhealthrights.org/peoples-union-for-civil-liberties-v-union-of-india-and-ors/
14. Economic Times (June 2021) — Centre asked states not to share eVIN vaccine-stock/temperature data publicly. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/centre-asks-states-not-to-share-data-on-vaccine-stocks-temperature-of-vaccine-storage-in-public/articleshow/83373332.cms
15. Medical Dialogues — Updated list of approved COVID-19 vaccines in India for 2026 (CDSCO restricted/emergency-use, not UIP). https://medicaldialogues.in/news/industry/pharma/govt-releases-updated-list-of-approved-covid-19-vaccines-in-india-for-2026-170322

Last reviewed: 10 July 2026 by the RTI Wiki editorial team.