New Delhi: India has administered more than 80 lakh (8 million) doses of the HPV vaccine since the launch of its national vaccination campaign in February, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to prevent cervical cancer.
The campaign, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, offers free and voluntary single-dose HPV vaccination to 14-year-old girls at government health facilities, with parental consent.
According to Registrar General of India estimates, around 1.2 crore girls form the annual cohort of 14-year-olds eligible to benefit from the initiative.
Several states have reported strong progress in reaching their identified target populations. Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram have achieved 100% coverage, while Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Assam have crossed 90%.
Karnataka has crossed 85% coverage, while Chhattisgarh, Sikkim, Kerala, Telangana and Odisha have exceeded 60%.
Uttar Pradesh has recorded the highest number of vaccinations among states, with more than 22 lakh adolescent girls vaccinated under the campaign.
The health ministry said the progress has been supported by community mobilisation and district-level health teams, with vaccination efforts reaching eligible girls in rural, urban, remote and geographically challenging areas.
The campaign has involved parents, teachers, healthcare professionals, ASHAs and ANMs to address concerns and counter misinformation surrounding HPV vaccination.
The government is also using the U-WIN digital platform to monitor coverage, identify gaps and missed beneficiaries, and improve programme planning.
The campaign builds on global experience with HPV vaccination. More than 800 million HPV vaccine doses have been distributed globally, while the vaccine has increasingly become part of national immunisation programmes across countries at different income levels.
All vaccination sessions are being conducted under the supervision of trained medical officers at government facilities. These centres are linked with 24×7 healthcare facilities for assessment and management of rare Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI).
With the campaign entering its final phase, the Centre said the focus is now on reaching remaining eligible beneficiaries and ensuring that no eligible girl is left behind.
The Health Ministry continues to coordinate with states, healthcare professionals, frontline workers and communities to strengthen awareness and access to HPV vaccination, which is considered an important tool in India’s long-term cervical cancer prevention strategy.
