Nearly three lakh 14-year-old girls have been vaccinated within the first two weeks of India’s nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, health ministry officials reported on Tuesday. The initiative, launched on 28 February by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to prevent cervical cancer, a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in India.

Several states are at the forefront of the campaign, including Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Odisha, and Mizoram. Officials noted that the early uptake demonstrates strong participation from schools, parents, and local communities, reflecting growing awareness of the importance of early protection against HPV.

“The enthusiastic participation seen so far reflects the efforts of parents, schools, and communities to safeguard young girls’ health,” a health ministry official said. The campaign has been strategically timed to coincide with the academic period, as examinations are currently ongoing in many regions, ensuring minimal disruption while promoting access to vaccination.

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Health authorities are coordinating with schools, local bodies, and healthcare workers to facilitate smooth vaccine delivery. Parents and guardians are being urged to encourage eligible girls to participate, highlighting that the initiative is more than a vaccination drive—it is a collective movement towards a healthier, cancer-free future.

The campaign uses the single-dose Gardasil-4 vaccine, which is provided free of charge at government health facilities, including rural and underserved areas. Vaccination is voluntary, requires parental consent, and is administered under medical supervision. All sites are linked to 24x7 Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) Management Centres to promptly address any medical issues.

The nationwide initiative aims to vaccinate approximately 1.2 crore 14-year-old girls across all 36 states and Union Territories. With over 80,000 cervical cancer cases reported in India during 2023–24, officials expressed optimism that the campaign’s momentum will continue to grow as the exam season concludes, helping to expand coverage and protect more young girls from this preventable disease.

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