PM Modi Launches Nationwide Free HPV Vaccine Drive For 14-Year-Old Girls To Prevent Cervical Cancer
Free HPV vaccination rolled out for 1.15 crore 14-year-old girls, aiming to reduce cervical cancer risk.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a nationwide mission to provide free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations to 1.15 crore 14-year-old girls every year, marking a major step in India’s fight against cervical cancer. The rollout was flagged off from Ajmer, alongside the inauguration of development projects worth Rs 17,000 crore across the state.
The campaign will administer the single-shot Gardasil 4 vaccine, which protects against HPV types 16 and 18 — responsible for most cervical cancer cases — as well as types 6 and 11. The vaccine will be available free of cost at designated government health facilities across all states and union territories, ensuring equitable access for adolescent girls nationwide.
The mission will run in “mission mode” over a three-month period, with daily vaccination sessions at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Primary Health Centres), Community Health Centres, Sub-District and District Hospitals, and Government Medical Colleges and Hospitals. Trained medical officers and skilled healthcare teams will supervise each session. Functional Cold Chain Points (CCPs) will ensure the vaccine’s integrity, and 24/7 government health facilities will provide immediate support for any rare adverse events following immunisation (AEFI). Vaccination will be voluntary, with informed consent obtained from parents or guardians.
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HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection, with high-risk types 16 and 18 accounting for nearly 80% of cervical cancer cases. While the infection often resolves without symptoms, persistent HPV infection can lead to cancer. According to the World Health Organization, HPV-related cancers are largely preventable through vaccination.
Evidence of long-term protection comes from a Swedish register-based study of more than 9.26 lakh girls and women, published in The British Medical Journal. The study found that women vaccinated before age 17 had a 79% lower risk of developing invasive cervical cancer compared with unvaccinated peers, and this protection remained strong for 13–15 years. Vaccination at age 17 or older also offered substantial long-term benefits, with up to a 77% reduced risk over time.
With this programme, India joins over 160 countries that have introduced HPV vaccination, aiming to significantly reduce cervical cancer incidence among future generations of women. Prime Minister Modi emphasized the societal importance of healthy women, stating, “We all know that when a mother falls ill in the family, the house feels scattered. If the mother is healthy, the family remains capable of facing every crisis.”
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