NEW DELHI: In a bid to prevent cervical cancer, the Center will launch a nationwide human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive for 14-year-old girls later this month and provide free vaccination at government health facilities across the country.The campaign will target girls turning 14 every year, reaching about 120 million teenagers every year across India. Vaccination will be voluntary and available at designated government health centres.Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India, causing nearly 80,000 new cases and more than 42,000 deaths every year. More than 80% of cases are persistent infections with high-risk HPV types, especially types 16 and 18.The move comes after continued emphasis from the highest levels. Prime Minister Modi has repeatedly emphasized cervical cancer prevention, calling for vaccination, early screening and affordable treatment, including at the Four Cancer Moonshot in September 2024.Unlike routine immunization under the Universal Immunization Program, the HPV awareness campaign will be conducted as a special event on designated immunization days and tracked through the U-WIN digital platform to ensure rapid coverage.The vaccine, called Gardasil, protects against HPV types 16 and 18, as well as HPV types 6 and 11. Gavi has committed to inject 260 million doses, of which about 150 million have been delivered. Officials estimate that around 12 crore rupees of vaccine will be needed to reach girls as young as 14 years old every year.More than 500 million vaccine doses have been administered worldwide.Dr Abhishek Shankar, Department of Radiation Oncology, AIIMS, said the launch is a historic step that strengthens India’s efforts to eliminate cervical cancer, protect hundreds of thousands of girls from the preventable disease and reduce future treatment burden in line with the World Health Organization’s elimination targets.Dr. Pragya Shukla, Head of Clinical Oncology, State Cancer Institute, Delhi said, “Vaccination before first sexual intercourse is crucial as HPV infection is silent and irreversible and the vaccine is safe and proven”.India’s single-dose strategy is supported by global evidence.
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