India Launches Free HPV Vaccination Drive for 14-Year-Old Girls | Gardasil preferred over indigenous Cervavac, know why!
In a landmark public health milestone, the Union Health Ministry is officially launching a nationwide, free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign to combat cervical cancer – the second most common cancer among Indian women, claiming over 42,000 lives annually.
The Rollout Strategy:
• The Target Group: The campaign exclusively targets girls who are 14 years of age. Officials estimate that roughly 1.15 crore girls will be eligible for the vaccine every year.
• Single-Dose Regimen: Aligning with the latest WHO guidelines, the government is utilizing a single-dose regimen, which studies show provides robust and durable immunity against persistent HPV infections when administered to adolescents before viral exposure.
• Digital Tracking: Eligible beneficiaries will need to book their vaccination slots through the government’s U-WIN portal (a system modeled after the Co-WIN platform used during the pandemic).
• Where to Get It: Shots will be administered free of cost at designated government facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, CHCs, district hospitals, and government medical colleges.
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Which Vaccine is Being Used?
The government has selected MSD’s Gardasil-4, a quadrivalent vaccine that protects against high-risk oncogenic strains (HPV 16 and 18) and low-risk strains (HPV 6 and 11). Through a partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, India is procuring 2.6 crore doses, with 1 crore already delivered.
Why Not India’s Indigenous ‘Cervavac’?
While the Serum Institute of India’s indigenous Cervavac is available in the private market, it has not been deployed for this national public drive yet. Officials noted that Cervavac is still awaiting WHO approval for a single-dose regimen, and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is currently conducting clinical evaluations to confirm its efficacy as a single shot. Once approved, the national program is expected to transition to Cervavac.
Also read : IMA Launches Phased HPV Vaccine Drive: ₹1,000 Shots for Doctors’ Families; Public Rollout Slated for 2026
