Indian scientists are developing new vaccines and innovative immunization system to curb measles, a highly contagious virus that affects a large number of children in India.

A new aerosol vaccine is currently being developed so as to accelerate the battle campaign measles, which hits both very young children and even adults.

In India, vaccinations for measles are administered to children at the age of one, four or 11, immunizing them for life. But scientists say that immunization processes have to be revamped.

"India has a lot of challenges to face. It has to start thinking of eradicating measles. Science and industry should foster a new partnership, and a way to develop new vaccines at lower costs," said M.K. Bhan, secretary of the department of biotechnology, speaking at the 92nd Indian Science Congress here.

"We have to accelerate efforts to eradicate polio, which is taking the energy required for other diseases," he said. "Immunisation rates in the country are very low and new social innovations are required to utilize available medicines."

He stressed the importance of reaching the best vaccines to every strata of population.

A child in India is immunized with just six shots of vaccine as opposed to a child in the US who receives 11, making them resistant to many more diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, Hepatitis B, influenza, rubella and mumps, he said.

"Medicines are out in the market for us to buy and use, the new strategy has to deal more with access, to deliver those that are available faster and safer," Bhan said.