India's HPV Vaccination Drive Administers 50 Lakh Doses in Three Months

India has achieved a significant milestone in its fight against cervical cancer, with the nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive successfully administering nearly 50 lakh (5 million) doses to 14-year-old girls within the first three months of its launch. This ambitious public health initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), commenced on February 28, 2026, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially launching the program in Ajmer, Rajasthan. The rapid rollout underscores India's commitment to safeguarding young lives and combating cervical cancer, which remains the second most common cancer among women in the country. Annually, India records over 1.2 lakh new cases and nearly 80,000 deaths due to cervical cancer, accounting for approximately 25% of global cervical cancer fatalities. The HPV vaccination drive targets approximately 1.15 crore (11.5 million) girls aged 14 years across all States and Union Territories each year. During the intensive three-month campaign, girls who turn 15 within 90 days of the launch are also eligible to receive the vaccine free of cost at designated government health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Primary Health Centres), Community Health Centres, Sub-District and District Hospitals, and Government Medical Colleges. According to the MoHFW, the campaign has gained strong momentum. Notably, states such as Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have already achieved 100% coverage of their respective target populations for this drive, while Mizoram has reached 93%. This progress highlights the robustness of India's public health system and the tireless efforts of frontline health workers across the country. The program primarily utilizes a single dose of Gardasil, a quadrivalent HPV vaccine manufactured by MSD, which protects against HPV types 16 and 18 – responsible for approximately 70% of cervical cancers – as well as types 6 and 11, which cause genital warts. The decision to adopt a single-dose regimen aligns with recommendations from the World Health Organization's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization, which concluded that a single dose offers comparable protection to two-dose schedules. While the indigenous HPV vaccine, Cervavac, developed by the Serum Institute of India, has been approved, its efficacy in a single-dose regimen is still under assessment through ongoing studies by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Its full inclusion in the national immunization program is anticipated after 2027, following the expected results of these studies. Currently, India is leveraging doses from the GAVI vaccine alliance for the national program. Historically, HPV vaccine uptake in India faced several barriers, including high cost (up to ₹4,000 per dose in private facilities), low public awareness, sociocultural stigma, and insufficient assistance from the health system. The current free and widespread government-led initiative aims to overcome these challenges, making the vaccine accessible to a broader population, particularly in rural and low-income areas where cervical cancer burden is high. The vaccination is voluntary, and informed consent from parents or guardians is obtained prior to administration. Each vaccination session is supervised by trained medical officers and supported by skilled healthcare teams, with cold chain points ensuring vaccine viability and facilities linked for managing any rare adverse events following immunization. This nationwide drive is a critical step towards realizing the government's vision of 'Swastha Nari' (Healthy Woman) and advancing global goals for cervical cancer elimination. Experts project that this initiative will have a significant impact on reducing the disease burden, saving lives, and bringing about substantial savings on treatment costs in the long run.

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