Centre to roll out free HPV vaccine drive for 14-year-old girls nationwide

India will launch a nationwide, free and voluntary HPV vaccination campaign for 14-year-old girls, using Gardasil under strict quality norms, as part of efforts to eliminate cervical cancer

The central government is set to launch a nationwide immunisation drive against Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a landmark step towards eradicating cervical cancer, which claims thousands of lives annually.

 

Vaccinations will be free, voluntary and target girls aged 14, according to sources in the Union Health Ministry. Cervical cancer is the second-most common cancer among women in India, with nearly 80,000 new cases and over 42,000 deaths reported annually.

 

The government said in 2024 that it was considering adding HPV prevention to the country’s immunisation programme. India will join more than 160 countries that have HPV vaccinations.

 

Officials told Business Standard that India’s campaign will include the Gardasil vaccine manufactured by MSD. “The quadrivalent HPV vaccine protects against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause cervical cancer, as well as types 6 and 11,” they said. 

The vaccine is available only in private hospitals and costs up to ₹4,000 per dose. The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), India’s apex immunisation body, has recommended introducing the vaccine.

 

Through a partnership with the Gavi vaccine alliance, India will integrate the globally recognised Gardasil vaccine into its national immunisation programme.

 

“The procurement follows stringent quality and cold-chain standards, enabling the government to provide the vaccine free of cost to eligible girls across all states and Union Territories,” said the officials.

 

The vaccination programme will be conducted exclusively at designated government health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, community health centres, subdistrict and district hospitals and government medical colleges. These places will ensure immediate medical support and reinforce safety and parental confidence.

 

“Each vaccination session will be carried out in the presence of trained medical officers, supported by skilled healthcare teams and equipped for post-vaccination observation and management of any rare adverse events,” said another official.