What Happened
- Approximately 3 lakh girls aged 14 years have been vaccinated under India's nationwide HPV vaccination campaign within just two weeks of its launch on 28 February 2026.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the programme in Ajmer, Rajasthan, targeting approximately 1.15 crore girls aged 14 years across all States and Union Territories, offering the vaccine free of cost at government facilities.
- States leading the drive include Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Odisha, and Mizoram.
- The campaign uses a single dose of a quadrivalent HPV vaccine that protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 — the strains responsible for the majority of cervical cancers and genital warts.
- India accounts for the highest number of cervical cancer deaths globally — nearly 80,000 deaths and over 1.2 lakh new cases annually, representing approximately 25% of the world's cervical cancer fatalities.
Static Topic Bridges
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Cervical Cancer: The Biological Link
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection and the leading cause of cervical cancer worldwide. HPV types 16 and 18 together cause approximately 70% of all cervical cancers. Types 6 and 11 cause genital warts. The virus infects the epithelial cells of the cervix and, in persistent infections, can lead to pre-cancerous lesions and invasive carcinoma. Vaccination is most effective when administered before first sexual exposure, making adolescent girls (ages 9–14) the primary target group globally.
- HPV types 16 & 18: Responsible for ~70% of cervical cancer cases worldwide
- HPV types 6 & 11: Cause ~90% of genital warts
- Cervical cancer is the 4th most common cancer in women globally (WHO)
- India burden: >1.2 lakh new cases and ~80,000 deaths annually; 25% of global cervical cancer deaths
- WHO recommends 1–2 doses for girls aged 9–14; single-dose schedules now supported by evidence
Connection to this news: India's decision to use a single-dose schedule for the 14-year cohort reflects updated WHO guidance and aims to maximise coverage at scale.
Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) and India's Vaccine Ecosystem
The Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), launched in 1985, is one of the largest public health programmes in the world. Administered by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare through the Mission Indradhanush framework, UIP covers vaccines against 13 vaccine-preventable diseases. The HPV vaccine has now been added to the national immunisation schedule, a landmark inclusion reflecting India's cervical cancer burden. India also has a domestically developed HPV vaccine, CERVAVAC, produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII), Pune — a quadrivalent vaccine covering HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18, developed in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
- UIP launched: 1985; currently covers 13 vaccine-preventable diseases
- Mission Indradhanush (2014): Special drive to increase full immunisation coverage
- CERVAVAC: India's first indigenous HPV vaccine; developed by Serum Institute of India, Pune
- CERVAVAC approved by DCGI (Drugs Controller General of India); being evaluated for WHO prequalification
- Current national programme uses Gardasil (quadrivalent, types 6/11/16/18) as the rollout vaccine
- Target: ~1.15 crore girls aged 14 years, free of cost at government facilities
Connection to this news: The nationwide HPV programme marks the inclusion of an adolescent girl-targeted vaccine into the UIP framework, expanding the scope of state-backed immunisation beyond infancy.
Cervical Cancer as a Public Health and Gender Equity Issue
Cervical cancer disproportionately affects women in lower-income groups and those with limited access to healthcare. Under the National Cancer Grid and Ayushman Bharat schemes, screening and treatment are included. The WHO's Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer (2020) sets three targets by 2030: 90% of girls vaccinated by age 15; 70% of women screened by age 35 and 45; 90% of women with cervical disease receiving treatment. India's nationwide HPV drive directly supports the first pillar of this 90-70-90 framework.
- WHO's 2020 global elimination strategy: 90-70-90 targets by 2030
- Cervical cancer is largely preventable through vaccination + screening (Pap smear, VIA, HPV DNA test)
- National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, CVD and Stroke (NPCDCS) covers cervical cancer screening
- Constitutional basis: Article 47 DPSP — state's duty to improve public health
- India's programme is among the largest single-cohort HPV vaccination drives globally
Connection to this news: The campaign's 2-week momentum — 3 lakh girls covered — reflects operational capacity, though achieving 1.15 crore coverage will require sustained state machinery engagement and community mobilisation.
Key Facts & Data
- Programme launch: 28 February 2026, Ajmer, Rajasthan
- Girls covered in first two weeks: ~3 lakh (aged 14 years)
- Total target: ~1.15 crore girls aged 14 years across all States/UTs
- Vaccine type: Quadrivalent HPV vaccine (types 6, 11, 16, 18); single dose
- India's annual cervical cancer burden: >1.2 lakh new cases, ~80,000 deaths
- India's share of global cervical cancer deaths: ~25%
- CERVAVAC: India's indigenous HPV vaccine by Serum Institute of India, Pune
- HPV types causing majority of cervical cancer: 16 and 18 (~70%)
- Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- UIP established: 1985; covers 13 vaccine-preventable diseases