In a major public health push aimed at preventing cervical cancer, the Central government is set to launch a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme within the next few weeks, with a 90-day mega drive planned to ensure rapid coverage.
As per officials, the initiative will provide free HPV vaccines to adolescent girls across the country, marking a significant expansion in preventive healthcare for women.
The programme will target 14-year-old girls and is expected to be rolled out through designated government health facilities under medical supervision. The initiative comes at a time when cervical cancer continues to remain one of the most common yet preventable cancers affecting women in India.
‘Swastha Nari’ initiative
The decision to provide free HPV vaccination to adolescent girls represents a major milestone in the government’s broader vision of 'Swastha Nari'.
“India to soon begin Free HPV Vaccination for Adolescent Girls, protecting India's Daughters, Preventing Cancer. The HPV Vaccination launch imminent in a landmark move to strengthen women's health and eliminate preventable cancers, the Government of India is set to soon launch the nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme. The initiative aims to protect adolescent girls against cervical cancer, one of the most common yet preventable cancers affecting women in India, and reflects the Government's firm resolve to convert policy commitments into tangible public health outcomes,” the source said to ANI.
For your daily dose of medical news and updates, visit: HEALTH
Cervical cancer, though preventable, continues to pose a persistent public health challenge in India. Scientific evidence establishes that almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by persistent infection with high-risk types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), particularly HPV types 16 and 18, which together account for more than 80 per cent of cervical cancer cases in India. Despite the availability of vaccination and screening, the disease continues to impose a heavy burden on women and families.
“The forthcoming HPV vaccination programme directly addresses this challenge by preventing HPV infection before it can progress to cancer. HPV Vaccination: Globally Proven, Safe and Highly Effective HPV vaccines are among the most extensively studied vaccines worldwide, with evidence demonstrating 93–100% effectiveness in preventing cervical cancer caused by vaccine-covered HPV types,” officials stated.
Under the national programme, vaccination will be conducted exclusively at designated government health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Primary Health Centres), Community Health Centres, Sub-District and District Hospitals, and Government Medical Colleges. Each vaccination session will be carried out in the presence of trained Medical Officers, supported by skilled healthcare teams and equipped for post-vaccination observation and management of any rare adverse events.
“All vaccination sites will be linked to 24x7 government health facilities, ensuring immediate medical support and reinforcing safety and parental confidence,” the source said, emphasising that administration will take place under medical supervision.
It has also been informed that through India’s partnership with Gavi, the Gardasil vaccines have been approved by India’s drug regulator and made available for the national programme.
“India's national programme will use Gardasil, a quadrivalent HPV vaccine that protects against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause cervical cancer, as well as types 6 and 11. Strong global and Indian scientific evidence confirm that a single dose provides robust and durable protection when administered to girls in the recommended age group,” the source said.
The initiative aligns with the recommendations of the World Health Organisation, which identifies HPV vaccination as a central pillar of the global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer.
The scale of cervical cancer in India
Cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in India, accounting for 22.86 per cent of all cancer cases in women and 12 per cent of all cancer cases overall. Nearly 80,000 new cases and over 42,000 deaths are reported annually, making it one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality among Indian women.
In fact, according to a recent Lok Sabha reply, the estimated number of cervical cancer cases in India has shown a steady rise in recent years, underscoring a growing disease burden. The figures indicate 73,289 cases in 2019, increasing to 75,209 in 2020 and 77,130 in 2021, followed by 79,103 cases in 2022 and 81,121 cases in 2023. This upward trend highlights the urgent need for stronger preventive measures, including expanded screening and wider access to HPV vaccination.
As mentioned in a WHO article, “a national single-dose HPV vaccination programme for girls in India could substantially reduce the incidence of cervical cancer, to below the incidence rate set by WHO as the threshold for the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem. The threshold would be achieved both nationally and in each Indian state.”
This story is done in collaboration with First Check, which is the health journalism vertical of DataLEADS