News: The Union Health Ministry is set to launch a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme.
About Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Programme
- It is a nationwide free HPV vaccination programme for adolescent girls in 2026.
- Aim: The initiative aims to prevent cervical cancer.
- Target age group: The programme will target girls aged 14 years across the country. Vaccinating at 14 ensures long-lasting immunity before possible infection.
- Vaccination will be voluntary and free of cost.
- Vaccine type: India will use Gardasil, a quadrivalent HPV vaccine, for protection from HPV types 16 and 18, which cause cervical cancer, as well as types 6 and 11.
- Where vaccinations will be given: Vaccines will be administered at government health facilities such as: Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Community hospitals, District hospitals and Government medical colleges.
- Protection offered by the vaccine: Gardasil protects against HPV types: 16 and 18 (linked to cervical cancer) and 6 and 11.
- The vaccine is 93–100% effective in preventing cervical cancer caused by covered HPV types.
- Dose recommendations: A single-dose schedule provides protection comparable to 2-dose schedules. Two or three doses are required for immunocompromised or HIV-infected individuals.
- Safety measures: All vaccination sessions will be supervised by trained medical officers and vaccination sites will be linked to 24×7 government health facilities.
