Centre plans free HPV vaccine for girls under national immunisation programme
To strengthen women’s health and eliminate preventable cancers, the Centre is set to soon launch a nationwide human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme.
The initiative aims at protecting adolescent girls against cervical cancer, one of the most common yet preventable cancers affecting women in India.
The programme aligns with World Health Organisation recommendations, which identify HPV vaccination as a central pillar of the global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer.
India’s national programme will use Gardasil, a quadrivalent HPV vaccine that protects against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause cervical cancer, as well as types 6 and 11. Strong global and Indian scientific evidence confirms that a single dose provides robust and durable protection when administered to girls in the recommended age group, officials said.
With the forthcoming launch, India will join 160 countries that have already introduced HPV vaccination into their national immunisation schedules. Globally, over 90 countries are implementing single-dose HPV vaccination schedules, improving coverage and affordability.
“The nationwide programme will target girls aged 14 years, an age at which the HPV vaccine offers maximum preventive benefit, well before potential exposure to the virus. Vaccination under the national programme will be voluntary and free of cost, ensuring equitable access across socio-economic groups,” an official said.
HPV vaccination under the national programme will be conducted at designated government health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (primary health centres), community health centres, sub-district and district hospitals and government medical colleges.
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. All vaccination sites will be linked to 24×7 government health facilities, ensuring immediate medical support and reinforcing safety and parental confidence.