New Delhi, September 11: India has administered more than 80 lakh doses of the HPV vaccine under its national vaccination campaign aimed at preventing cervical cancer, marking a significant milestone in the country’s preventive healthcare efforts.
The nationwide campaign, launched in February 2026, provides free and voluntary single-dose HPV vaccination to eligible 14-year-old girls at government health facilities, subject to parental consent.
According to estimates cited by the government, around 1.2 crore girls are part of the 14-year-old age group each year and are expected to be covered under the initiative.
Several states have reported substantial progress in vaccination coverage. Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram have achieved 100 per cent coverage of their respective targeted groups, while Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Assam have crossed the 90 per cent mark.
Karnataka has reported coverage of more than 85 per cent, while Chhattisgarh, Sikkim, Kerala, Telangana and Odisha have crossed 60 per cent coverage.
Among the states, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of vaccinations, with more than 22 lakh adolescent girls receiving the HPV vaccine under the programme.
The government said the progress has been supported by coordinated efforts involving state and district health authorities, community organisations, healthcare professionals, teachers and frontline workers.
Special efforts have also been made to reach eligible girls in rural, urban, remote and geographically challenging areas.Awareness and community engagement form an important part of the campaign.
Healthcare professionals, including paediatricians and gynaecologists, along with ASHA workers and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives, have participated in efforts to address concerns and provide reliable information about HPV vaccination.
The campaign is also making use of the U-WIN digital platform to monitor vaccination coverage. The system helps authorities identify areas with lower coverage, track missed beneficiaries and improve planning and resource allocation at the district level.Safety monitoring is another key component of the programme.
Vaccination sessions are being conducted at government health facilities under the supervision of trained medical officers. Arrangements have also been made for the assessment and management of rare Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) through linked 24-hour healthcare facilities.
The government said India’s programme draws on extensive global experience with HPV vaccination. More than 800 million HPV vaccine doses have been distributed worldwide, while an increasing number of countries across different income groups have incorporated HPV vaccination into their national immunisation programmes.
As the campaign enters its final phase, authorities are focusing on reaching eligible girls who have not yet been vaccinated and strengthening awareness and access across states and Union Territories.
The initiative is expected to contribute to India’s long-term efforts to reduce the burden of cervical cancer by expanding access to preventive vaccination among adolescent girls.
