Free HPV Vaccination drive to protect 14-year-old girls nationwide
HPV Vaccination: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme that aims to protect 14-year-old girls from cervical cancer. This ambitious public health programme was formally inaugurated from Ajmer, marking a significant milestone in India’s quest to enhance preventive healthcare among its female citizens.
While speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the HPV vaccination programme, Prime Minister Modi said that the programme will greatly contribute to the creation of a healthy future for young girls in India. “Today, I have had the opportunity to launch the HPV vaccine campaign from Ajmer. This campaign will make the girls of this country strong,” PM Modi said while speaking at the inauguration ceremony.
In a tweet posted on X, Prime Minister Modi said that the HPV vaccination programme will help prevent cervical cancer, which remains one of the major causes of death due to cancer among females in India. He also reiterated the government’s commitment to empowering the youth, developing the country through science and innovation, and strengthening the healthcare system in the country.
Single-Shot HPV Vaccine Rollout
Under the programme, eligible girls will receive a single dose of Gardasil 4, a quadrivalent HPV vaccine. The vaccine provides protection against HPV types 16 and 18, which are responsible for the majority of cervical cancer cases, as well as types 6 and 11, which cause genital warts.
Health experts have welcomed the adoption of a single-dose vaccination strategy, citing global scientific studies that show one dose offers strong and long-lasting protection when administered during early adolescence. Officials said the simplified schedule will help improve coverage, reduce logistical challenges, and ensure better compliance across rural and urban areas.
Target Coverage and Free Vaccination
The nationwide HPV vaccination programme would reach around 1.15 crore girls who would be 14 years old annually in all States and UTs. The vaccine would be provided free of cost to girls in government health facilities, which would prevent cost from becoming a factor.
It was also clarified that this would be a continuous programme that would reach every cohort of girls who would be 14 years old annually. This would reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in the country in the long run.
Mission-Mode Implementation
The nationwide HPV vaccination programme will be implemented in mission mode for an initial period of three months. Within this time frame, the girls who are eligible for the vaccine may receive the vaccine on a daily basis at the centres. Thereafter, the vaccine would be available on immunisation days through the public health system.
The immunisation would be carried out through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Primary Health Centers), Community Health Centers, Sub-District and District Hospitals, Government Medical Colleges, and Government Hospitals. The immunisation would be supervised by trained health workers who would also provide observation facilities for the handling of rare adverse events, if any.
Importance of HPV Vaccination
Cervical cancer ranks as the second most common cancer among women in India. Tens of thousands of new cervical cancer cases are diagnosed each year. High-risk strains of human papilloma viruses, especially types 16 and 18, cause more than 80 percent of cervical cancers.
It has been emphasized by medical professionals that an individual infected with the human papilloma virus usually remains asymptomatic and may remain in this state for a number of years before developing cervical cancer. There is no cure for the human papilloma virus infection. It has been suggested that the best way of preventing cervical cancer is through vaccination at an early age. This reduces the risk of developing cervical cancer in later life.
A Step Towards Preventive Healthcare
nificaPublic health experts have referred to this program as a landmark initiative that puts India in line with the best practices in the world for the prevention of cancer. This program, in conjunction with cervical screenings and awareness programs, will ultimately lead to the saving of thousands of lives in the long run.
The government, through the initiation of this nationwide program for the immunization of women against HPV, has reaffirmed its commitment to preventive healthcare and the health of women and adolescents alike.
Read more…Muted Opening for The Kerala Story 2 Despite Court Clearance
