New Delhi: More than 52.10 lakh girls have received the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine under the nationwide vaccination campaign launched earlier this year, the Centre informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
In a written reply, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel said the nationwide HPV vaccination campaign was launched on February 28, 2026, targeting nearly 1.2 crore girls aged 14 years across all 36 States and Union Territories. As of July 15, 2026, 52,10,302 girls had been vaccinated.
The HPV vaccine is being administered free of cost through designated government health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), Sub-District Hospitals, District Hospitals and Government Medical Colleges.
The Minister said extensive training on HPV vaccination has been completed for medical and paramedical staff across all States and Union Territories. Vaccination coverage is being monitored through the U-WIN digital platform, while awareness campaigns using radio jingles, posters, banners, social media and myth-busting content are being conducted to address vaccine hesitancy, particularly in rural, tribal and urban slum areas.
The government said its strategy to combat cervical cancer goes beyond vaccination and includes screening, early diagnosis at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, and treatment through Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCCs) as part of a comprehensive national prevention programme.
