PM Launches Nationwide HPV Vaccination Drive For Adolescent Girls From Ajmer

India on Saturday joined more than 160 countries that have included the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in their national immunisation programmes to prevent cervical cancer among women.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the nationwide HPV vaccination drive for 14-year-old girls from Ajmer, describing it as an important step to protect girls from cervical cancer and to improve women’s health in the long run.

Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister said the campaign would make young girls stronger by protecting them from a disease that can largely be prevented. In a post on X, he said the initiative aims to reduce cervical cancer, which is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women in India.

Under the programme, a single dose of Gardasil 4—a vaccine that protects against four types of HPV—will be given free of cost at government health centres across all states and union territories. The vaccine protects against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause most cervical cancer cases, and types 6 and 11, which cause genital warts.

Officials said around 1.15 crore 14-year-old girls will be covered every year. For the first three months, the campaign will run in "mission mode," and eligible girls can get vaccinated on any working day at selected centres. After that, the vaccine will become part of the routine immunisation programme.

Vaccination will be carried out at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Primary Health Centres), Community Health Centres, Sub-District and District Hospitals, and government medical colleges. Each session will be supervised by trained doctors and healthcare workers. Proper cold storage systems have been arranged to ensure the vaccine remains safe and effective. Centres will also be linked to 24-hour government hospitals to handle any rare side effects. The vaccine is voluntary, and parents or guardians must give consent before it is administered.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a common infection that spreads mainly through sexual contact. According to the World Health Organization, most people who are sexually active get HPV at some point in their lives, often without knowing it. In most cases, the infection goes away on its own. However, if certain high-risk types remain in the body for a long time, they can lead to cervical cancer and other cancers.

Nearly 80% of cervical cancer cases are linked to HPV types 16 and 18. The WHO has said that vaccination, along with regular screening and early treatment, can greatly reduce the number of cases and deaths.

Cervical cancer is a serious public health problem in India. Every year, about 1.27 lakh new cases are reported, and nearly 80,000 women die due to the disease. Doctors say the cancer often develops slowly and may not show symptoms in the early stages. By the time signs such as abnormal bleeding or pelvic pain appear, the disease may already be advanced.

Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist at the WHO, said the benefits of the vaccination drive will become clear over the next 15 to 20 years. She said cervical cancer is one of the top cancers among Indian women and causes tens of thousands of deaths each year, but it can be prevented through vaccination. She described the programme as safe, effective, and beneficial for women.

Dr. Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge for WHO South-East Asia, called the launch a landmark step. She said the region carries nearly one-fourth of the global cervical cancer burden. Large-scale vaccination in India will help move closer to the global 90-70-90 targets set for 2030: vaccinating 90% of girls by age 15, screening 70% of women at 35 and 45 years, and treating 90% of women diagnosed with pre-cancer or cancer.

Dr. Shakun Tyagi, Professor at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Maulana Azad Medical College and LNJP Hospital, Delhi, said the vaccine works best when given before exposure to the virus. Giving it at 14 years ensures strong and long-lasting protection. Studies have shown that the vaccine provides more than 90% protection against long-term infection with high-risk HPV types in this age group.

However, experts stressed that vaccination alone is not enough. Dr. Tyagi said awareness is very important, as many women in India do not undergo regular screening and there is still social stigma around discussing sexual and reproductive health.

Dr. Abhishek Shankar, Assistant Professor of Oncology at AIIMS-Delhi and Secretary General of the Asian Pacific Organization for Cancer Prevention, also highlighted the need for awareness. He said modern communication platforms should be used to spread clear and correct information about the vaccine. He added that cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that can be prevented through vaccination, and people must understand its importance.

Dr. Shankar noted that many countries—Sweden, Bangladesh, several African nations, and Australia—have significantly reduced cervical cancer rates through vaccination. In a country like India, nearly one-third of the world’s cervical cancer incidence occurs here, and about one-fourth of global mortality is also from India. Therefore, focusing on cervical cancer prevention is extremely important. It is largely a disease affecting relatively poorer women.

“If vaccination is done today, its impact will be seen in the future. In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) set elimination targets: 90% vaccination, 70% screening, and 90% treatment. This vaccination drive is the first and most essential step.”

On the discussion about vaccinating boys, Dr. Shankar said right now, the focus area should be clear: vaccinate girls first because cervical cancer primarily affects them and they are the more vulnerable group. “Ideally, both boys and girls should receive the vaccine, but when starting a national programme, priority should be given to girls.”

The health experts unanimously agreed that if the programme achieves high coverage, it could become a turning point in India’s fight against cervical cancer and help the country move towards eliminating the disease in the future.