PM Modi Launches Nationwide HPV Vaccination Drive

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 28 February launched the nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Campaign for 14-year-old girls from Ajmer, Rajasthan, marking a historic milestone in India’s fight against cervical cancer.

India’s HPV Vaccination Programme

India’s national programme uses Gardasil-4 (Quadrivalent: HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18) in a single-dose schedule, aligned with global scientific evidence and WHO recommendations.

The campaign will cover girls aged 14 years (those who have completed 14 years but have not yet completed 15 years), aiming to significantly reduce future cervical cancer incidence and mortality.

Cervical cancer continues to be a major public health challenge globally and in India. According to the GLOBOCAN 2022 report by the World Health Organization, India records over 1.2 lakh new cervical cancer cases and nearly 80,000 deaths annually, making it the second most common cancer among women in the country.

Cause and Prevention

Persistent infection with high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) — particularly types 16 and 18 — has been identified as the primary cause of cervical cancer. Vaccination before exposure to the virus is considered the most effective preventive strategy.

To address this burden, India has launched a nationwide HPV vaccination campaign aimed at protecting adolescent girls before potential exposure to HPV infection. The vaccine has been validated as safe, effective, and capable of providing long-lasting protection against HPV strains responsible for the majority of cervical cancer cases.

Global and National Endorsement

HPV vaccination is recommended by leading expert bodies, including the World Health Organization and India’s National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI).

Globally, 160 out of 194 countries have introduced the HPV vaccine under their National Immunization Programmes.

• 90 countries have adopted a single-dose schedule, including most Southeast Asian nations.
• 80 countries are using the Gardasil-4 vaccine in their national programmes.
• Of these, 61 countries are implementing it under a single-dose schedule.

Public Health Significance

The initiative marks a major step toward strengthening preventive healthcare and aligns with global efforts to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem..

Source: PIB