NEW DELHI: In a major preventive health push against cervical cancer, the Centre is set to roll out a nationwide human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive for 14-year-old girls later this month, offering the shot free of cost at govt health facilities across the country.The campaign will target girls turning 14 each year, covering an annual cohort of approximately 1.2 crore adolescents across India. The vaccination will be voluntary and provided at designated govt health centres.Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Indian women, which causes nearly 80,000 new cases and over 42,000 deaths annually. Persistent infection with high-risk HPV types, particularly 16 and 18, accounts for more than 80% of cases.The move follows sustained emphasis at the highest level. PM Modi has repeatedly highlighted cervical cancer prevention, calling for vaccination, early screening and affordable treatment, including at the Quad Cancer Moonshot event in Sept 2024.Unlike routine immunisation under the Universal Immunisation Programme, the HPV drive will be conducted as a special campaign on designated immunisation days and tracked through the U-WIN digital platform to ensure rapid coverage.The vaccine, Gardasil, protects against HPV types 16 and 18, along with 6 and 11. Gavi has committed 2.6 crore doses, with about 1.5 crore already delivered. Officials estimate roughly almost 1.2 crore doses will be needed annually to cover girls turning 14 each year.Globally, over 500 million doses of the vaccine have been administered.Dr Abhishek Shankar from the department of radiation oncology at AIIMS described the rollout as a historic step that strengthens India’s push to eliminate cervical cancer, protect lakhs of girls from a preventable disease and reduces the future treatment burden in line with the WHO elimination goal.Dr Pragya Shukla, head of clinical oncology at Delhi State Cancer Institute, said, “vaccination before sexual debut is critical, as HPV infection is silent and irreversible, and the vaccine is safe and proven”.India’s single-dose strategy is backed by global evidence.
