Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Campaign for 14-year-old girls from Ajmer, Rajasthan. To prevent cervical cancer through early immunization.
About Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- HPV refers to a group of 200+ related viruses.
- It is a common sexually transmitted infection (STI).
- In about 90% of cases, the body clears the infection naturally.
- Persistent infection with high-risk HPV types (especially 16 and 18) can cause cervical cancer.
Burden of Cervical Cancer
- India accounts for 25% of global cervical cancer deaths. It is the second most common cancer among women in India.
- One in every five women globally who suffers from cervical cancer is from India. India ranks fourth globally in cervical cancer-related morbidity
- It is only cancer preventable by a vaccine, if administered timely
HPV vaccines are:
- Safe and effective
- Provide long-lasting protection
- 93–100% effective against vaccine-covered HPV types
Global and national expert bodies including WHO and India’s National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) recommend HPV vaccination.
Global Context
- 160 out of 194 countries have introduced the HPV vaccine.
- 90 countries use a single-dose schedule.
- 80 countries use Gardasil-4 in their National Immunization Programmes.
Vaccine Used in India
India’s programme uses Gardasil-4 (Quadrivalent vaccine):
- Protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18.
- Administered as single dose (aligned with WHO recommendations).
- Intramuscular injection (0.5 ml) in the left upper arm.
A quadrivalent vaccine works by stimulating an immune response against four different antigens, such as four different viruses or other microorganisms.
About HPV Vaccination Campaign
Objective of the Campaign
- Protect girls before potential exposure to HPV.
- Reduce cervical cancer incidence.
- Strengthen preventive healthcare for adolescent girls.
Target Population and Coverage: Girls aged 14 years (those who have completed 14 years but have not yet completed 15 years).
- As per Registrar General of India (RGI) 2021 estimates, the annual cohort of 14-year-old girls is approximately 1.2 crore, who are expected to benefit from this initiative each year.
Vaccination Duration: 3 months (90 days) in campaign mode.
- After completion of the campaign phase, HPV vaccine will be available on routine immunization session days.
Session Sites: Only Government Health Facilities like Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) – Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), Sub-District Hospitals (SDHs), District Hospitals (DHs), Government Medical Colleges and Hospitals (GMCHs)
Dose & Administration: Single dose (0.5 ml) Intramuscular (IM) injection in the left upper arm
Vaccination is voluntary, free of cost and will be administered only after parental/guardian consent
Beneficiaries may pre-register and schedule appointments on the U-WIN digital platform, or opt for walk-in vaccination at designated government health facilities.
Parental/guardian consent is mandatory and will be recorded digitally on U-WIN.
Vaccination will be deferred or avoided in the following cases:
- Girls with moderate or severe illness until recovery
- Girls with a history of severe allergic reaction to previous vaccination
- Girls known to be allergic to yeast
- Girls outside the target age group
Digital Platforms Usage
- U-WIN platform: It will be used for session planning, registration, recording and reporting.
- e-VIN portal: It will be used to manage vaccine stocks and logistics
- Girls already vaccinated (Gardasil, Gardasil-9, Cervarix, Cervavac) will have status updated on U-WIN.