New Delhi, 11 September (H.S.):

India has achieved a major milestone in the prevention of cervical cancer, with more than 8 million doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine administered so far under the National HPV Vaccination Programme. The campaign was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2026. Under the programme, 14-year-old adolescent girls are being offered a voluntary, free, single-dose HPV vaccine at government health centres with the consent of their parents or guardians. According to 2021 estimates by the Registrar General of India, around 12 million girls reach the age of 14 every year in the country and are expected to benefit from the initiative.

In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said 100 per cent coverage had been achieved in four states — Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram — among their identified target groups. Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Assam have recorded coverage of more than 90 per cent. Karnataka has crossed 85 per cent coverage, while Chhattisgarh, Sikkim, Kerala, Telangana and Odisha have achieved coverage of more than 60 per cent. Uttar Pradesh is leading among the states, with more than 2.2 million adolescent girls having received the HPV vaccine under the campaign.

According to the ministry, special emphasis is being placed on addressing myths and misinformation surrounding HPV vaccination by involving parents, teachers, healthcare workers and medical experts. Paediatricians, gynaecologists, ASHA workers and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), along with experts from institutions such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), are also supporting the awareness campaign.

The U-WIN digital platform is being used to monitor the vaccination drive. The platform enables authorities to track coverage at the district level and identify beneficiaries who have been missed, as well as gaps in vaccination.

All vaccination sessions at government health centres are being conducted under the supervision of trained medical officers. Government health facilities have also been linked with 24×7 healthcare services to ensure appropriate management of rare adverse events following immunisation.

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the campaign is now moving towards its final phase, with the focus shifting to reaching the remaining eligible adolescent girls. The government aims to ensure that no eligible girl is left out of the HPV vaccination programme.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar