Swastha Nari vision: Govt set to launch HPV vaccination for adolescent girls

The government of India is set to launch a nationwide human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme targeting girls aged 14 years, reported PTI on Tuesday.

The launch will be taking place two years after the centre promised in the Union Budget 2024, according to the government sources the rollout could begin within the next two days , marking a major step in preventing cervical cancer across the country.

The drive would be a special vaccination campaign and not under the government’s Universal Immunisation Programme and is in line with the World Health Organisation recommendations.

More than 1 crore doses will be supplied to India with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, officials said. The vaccine to be used in the campaign is Gardasil, manufactured by Merck.

The initiative is part of the government’s larger vision of “Swastha Nari” (Healthy Woman), focusing on preventive healthcare for adolescent girls.

According to data, cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in India, with nearly 80,000 new cases and over 42,000 deaths reported annually.

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.

Officials have urged parents and guardians across the country to ensure that their daughters receive adequate healthcare facilities focusing on preventive sexual health.  

All vaccination sites will be linked to 24/7 government health facilities, ensuring immediate medical support and reinforcing safety and parental confidence.

Under India’s partnership with Gavi — The Vaccine Alliance, high-quality Gardasil vaccines — approved by India’s drug regulator and widely used internationally – have been made available for the national programme.

(With inputs from PTI)