India begins nationwide HPV vaccination to wipe out cervical cancer: Full details

The Government of India is rolling out a free national HPV vaccination campaign for teenage girls to prevent cervical cancer, using globally approved vaccines, digital tracking, and WHO-backed strategies to achieve elimination targets.

India is set to launch a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive, marking a major step towards eliminating cervical cancer, one of the most common yet preventable cancers among Indian women. The programme aims to protect young girls at an early age and drastically reduce future disease burden through timely vaccination.

The campaign will primarily target 14-year-old girls and will be conducted voluntarily and free of cost at designated government health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and district hospitals. Studies show that when the vaccine is administered during teenage years, it can reduce the risk of cervical cancer by over 85%, making early immunisation critical.

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For the initial phase, the government will use MSD’s Gardasil, a quadrivalent vaccine developed in the United States. This vaccine provides protection against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause most cervical cancers, and types 6 and 11, responsible for genital warts. Following World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, India has adopted a single-dose schedule, with an optional delayed second dose after three to five years. The indigenous vaccine Cervavac, although developed in India, is currently not included as it has not yet received WHO approval for this national programme.

The HPV vaccine is non-live, meaning it cannot cause infection, and has a strong global safety record, with over 500 million doses administered worldwide since 2006. Scientific studies indicate 93% to 100% effectiveness in preventing cervical cancer linked to various HPV strains.

Under India’s partnership with GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, Gardasil doses approved by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) have been procured for national use. The introduction of this vaccine was recommended by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), while the Union Budget 2024 encouraged vaccination for girls aged 9 to 14 years.

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Unlike routine immunisation under the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP), this initiative will run as a special campaign on selected immunisation days. Progress will be digitally tracked through the U-WIN platform, ensuring efficient monitoring and rapid coverage.

HPV is a group of over 200 related viruses that infect the skin and mucous membranes. While 90% of infections clear naturally within one to two years, persistent infection with high-risk HPV types can lead to cancer. In India, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women, with nearly 80,000 new cases and over 42,000 deaths annually. Persistent HPV infection causes around 85% of these cases, with types 16 and 18 responsible for more than 80%.

HPV mainly spreads through intimate skin-to-skin contact, commonly during sexual activity. Vaccination before sexual exposure remains the most effective preventive measure. Additional prevention methods include condom use, voluntary male circumcision, and smoking cessation.

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Globally, WHO’s elimination strategy targets 90% vaccination of girls by age 15, 70% screening of women by ages 35 and 45, and 90% treatment for detected cases by 2030. India’s new campaign directly aligns with these goals, signalling a decisive national push to eliminate cervical cancer.