India Begins HPV Vaccination Campaign For Teen Girls: All You Need To Know

India began its nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive for girls from Ajmer on February 28, marking a big step forward for public health. The campaign provides free vaccines for 1.15 crore girls aged 14. The initiative aims to combat cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of death among women in India, by emphasising stronger preventive measures.

In a statement, government officials said that a single-dose "Gardasil 4" vaccine, a quadrivalent HPV vaccine, will be used under the campaign. "A single dose of Gardasil-4 provides 93–100% effectiveness against the HPV types responsible for cervical cancer," the statement read.

Eligibility and process

Under this initiative, 14-year-old girls are eligible to receive the HPV vaccine free of charge at government health facilities. Participation is voluntary. Eligible girls can visit designated vaccination centres—including Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Primary Health Centres), Community Health Centres, District Hospitals, and Government Medical Colleges—to receive their doses within the first three months of the program.

Girls who turn 15 within 90 days of the launch will also be eligible under the intensive three-month campaign. The 90-day vaccination drive will run daily to ensure maximum coverage. Thereafter, the vaccine will continue to be available on routine immunisation days.

Prior to the administration of the vaccine, consent from the parents or guardians is needed. The process will be facilitated through the online platform U-WIN.

Why HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention Matter

Cervical cancer is often attributed to a persistent infection of high-risk types of human papillomavirus, particularly types 16 and 18, which account for a majority of cervical cancer cases in India. Other types, such as 6 and 11 are more commonly associated with cordial diseases like genital warts.

Although it is a completely preventable disease, cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer in Indian women, with new cases of 80,000 and deaths of over 42,000 every year in India alone. In light of this, the need for prevention, such as vaccination, is critical.

About the Vaccine

The Gardasil vaccine is a quadrivalent HPV vaccine that is used in India to protect against four types of virus, namely types 6, 11, 16 and 18. It has proved to be very effective in providing long-term protection against the high-risk types of HPV that cause cervical cancer and has been successfully used to fight these cancer-causing virus types. More than 500 million doses have been administered since its inception.

With the help of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, India has ensured a constant supply of the vaccine and has developed a cold chain system to keep the vaccine effective across the country. The health facility sessions will be conducted by trained medical officers who are equipped to deal with any adverse effects, ensuring that every child who receives the vaccine gets protected.

The HPV vaccine is non-live and cannot cause HPV infection; its safety has been ascertained by the topmost health organisations in the world, including the World Health Organisation and the world’s topmost immunisation experts.

What This Means Going Forward

India has become part of an ever-expanding list of nations that are utilising this vaccine as part of their public health strategies. This is an advancement in the fight to ensure that cervical cancer becomes a preventable public health measure throughout the world, hoping to immunise a vast majority of young girls before they are ever exposed to the virus. This is a historic move for parents who want to protect their daughters from a preventable disease that has already claimed thousands of young lives.