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NEW DELHI — In a historic move for women’s health, the Government of India has officially launched a massive nationwide immunization campaign to provide the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to girls aged 9 to 14. This high-intensity initiative aims to drastically reduce the burden of cervical cancer, which remains the second most common cancer among women in the country.
The rollout follows an announcement earlier this month and is part of a 90-day “mega drive” designed to ensure maximum coverage for an estimated 1.15 crore (11.5 million) eligible girls in its first phase alone.
A Free, Single-Dose Strategy
To streamline the logistics of such a vast campaign, the government has adopted a single-dose regimen of the quadrivalent vaccine, Gardasil 4, manufactured by Merck & Co. (MSD). While the vaccine is traditionally administered in two or three doses in the private sector, global and Indian scientific evidence—supported by the World Health Organization (WHO)—confirms that a single dose provides robust, long-lasting protection for this age group.
Eligibility : Girls aged 9 to 14 (with an immediate focus on the 14-year-old cohort).
Cost : Free of cost at all government health facilities.
Access : Appointments can be booked via the U-WIN portal, similar to the Co-WIN platform used for COVID-19.
Why It Matters: The Burden in India
Cervical cancer is often called a “silent killer” because it develops slowly over decades. India currently accounts for nearly one-fifth of the global cervical cancer burden, with approximately 1.27 lakh (127,000) new cases and nearly 80,000 deaths reported annually.
“A nationwide HPV vaccination programme for young girls is a powerful, practical step toward changing that reality,” said Dr. Dinesh Pendharkar, Director of Oncology at Sarvodaya Hospitals. “By ensuring free and equitable access, we are investing in prevention and moving closer to eliminating cervical cancer in India.”
Phased Rollout and Safety
The drive is being conducted at designated government health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Primary Health Centres) and government schools. To ensure public confidence:
confidence:
Safety Monitoring : All sites are linked to 24/7 medical facilities to manage any rare adverse events.
Supply Chain : The government has secured 2.6 crore (26 million) doses through a partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Phased Approach : While the current drive is a “special campaign,” the vaccine is expected to be integrated into the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) for routine delivery in the coming years.
Elimination by 2060?
Public health experts believe that if India achieves the WHO “90-70-90” targets—90% of girls vaccinated by age 15, 70% of women screened, and 90% of those with disease treated—the country could eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem by the early 2060s.
While the indigenous vaccine Cervavac (by the Serum Institute of India) is already available in the private market, the government’s current use of Gardasil 4 ensures immediate implementation using WHO-prequalified doses while domestic production scales up to meet future demand.
