New Delhi, September 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India has administered more than 80 lakh doses of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine since the launch of its National HPV Vaccination Campaign in February 2026, marking a significant step towards preventing cervical cancer, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Friday.
According to the ministry, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram have achieved 100 per cent coverage of their respective identified target populations. Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Assam have crossed 90 per cent coverage, while Karnataka has achieved more than 85 per cent.
Chhattisgarh, Sikkim, Kerala, Telangana and Odisha have crossed the 60 per cent coverage mark.
Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February, the nationwide campaign provides voluntary, single-dose HPV vaccination free of cost to 14-year-old girls at government health facilities, with parental consent.
Based on Registrar General of India estimates for 2021, around 1.2 crore girls form the annual cohort of 14-year-olds expected to benefit from the programme each year.
The ministry said progress in Assam and other northeastern states has demonstrated the importance of integrated community health networks and coordinated field-level efforts in extending vaccination access across geographically diverse regions.
Paediatricians, gynaecologists and experts from institutions including AIIMS, along with teachers and frontline health workers such as ASHAs and ANMs, have supported awareness, mobilisation and vaccination efforts across states and districts.
The campaign is also using India’s digital health infrastructure through the U-WIN platform, allowing programme managers to track vaccination coverage at the district level, identify gaps and missed beneficiaries, and improve planning and resource allocation.
The ministry noted that HPV vaccines have currently been incorporated into National Immunization Programmes in 87 per cent of upper-middle-income countries, 78 per cent of lower-middle-income countries and 54 per cent of low-income countries.
All vaccination sessions under the campaign are conducted under the supervision of trained medical officers at government health facilities. These facilities are also linked with 24×7 healthcare facilities to manage rare Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI), enabling timely assessment, monitoring and treatment of any vaccination-related adverse event.
With the campaign moving towards its final phase, the ministry said the focus is now on reaching the remaining eligible beneficiaries and ensuring that no eligible girl is left behind.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said it continues to work with states and Union Territories, healthcare professionals, frontline workers and communities to strengthen awareness, improve access and support effective implementation of the HPV vaccination campaign.
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