Central govt to launch HPV vaccination drive for girls aged 14 this month

The programme will use a single-shot Gardasil which provides protection against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause cervical cancer, as well as types 6 and 11.

Updated on: Feb 25, 2026, 08:06:49 IST

By Ridhima Gupta

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The central government will launch a special nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign this month for girls aged 14 years to combat cervical cancer, according to people in the health ministry.

Eligible beneficiaries can register on the U-WIN portal to receive the vaccination. (HT_PRINT)

As part of the campaign, the programme will use a single-shot Gardasil, a quadrivalent HPV vaccine, which provides protection against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause cervical cancer, as well as types 6 and 11.

The government is procuring the vaccine from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. According to health department officials, the Centre will procure 26 million Gardasildoses by 2027.

Eligible beneficiaries can register on the U-WIN portal to receive the vaccination.

“Ten million doses have already reached India. The rest will arrive later this year and the next. Doses have already been dispatched to all states for further distribution. The training for administering the jab has also been provided heath workers,” said a government official, who did not wish to be named.

The registration will begin once the driver is rolled out, “The process will entail submission of age-verification documents, following which a slot can be booked at the nearest government facility,” said the official.

“We are all set to do a formal launch for the special drive this month. The upcoming nationwide roll-out is a significant milestone towards achieving the vision of Swastha Nari campaign ensuring that prevention, protection, and equity form the foundation of women’s healthcare in the country,” a health department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.

The jab will be administered free of cost.

The drive would be a special vaccination campaign and not under the government’s Universal Immunisation Programme.

The official quoted above said more than more than 10 million girls will be given the vaccine in the latest round. The official did not mention phases in which the drive will be carried out.

In the open market, quadrivalent Gardasil-4 is a two-dose vaccine for girls below 15 years. For those above 15 years, three doses of the vaccine are required. WHO has also acknowledged single dose of the HPV vaccine, including Gardasil 4.

While India has its own indigenously developed cervical cancer vaccine, CERVAVAC, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII), it is yet to get the WHO’s approval, the official cited above said.

According to government data, cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in India, with nearly 80,000 new cases and over 42,000 deaths reported annually.

Scientific evidence establishes that almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by persistent infection with high-risk types of HPV, particularly HPV types 16 and 18, which together account for more than 80 per cent of cervical cancer cases in India.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ridhima Gupta
Ridhima Gupta is a Principal Correspondent at Hindustan Times, where she covers healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and public health policy. Her reporting centers on Delhi’s major hospitals (AIIMS, Safdarjung, Lok Nayak), the state health department, and emerging medical trends. Ridhima is particularly interested in reporting on healthcare issues through the lens of women, children, and persons with disabilities. Her work often explores the intersection of healthcare and public policy, examining how these factors shape access health care. Based in New Delhi, many of her reports have led to direct government action over the years, in different city. Earlier this year, she completed a media training workshop on the Impact of Extreme Heat on Health, organised by the Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC), further strengthening her interest in reporting on the intersection of climate change and public health. A postgraduate from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Ridhima has around a decade of experience in journalism. She began her career as a trainee television reporter with Mirror Now in Mumbai and has since worked across multiple cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi, contributing to both print and broadcast newsrooms. She is a recipient of the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022) for her reporting on education, disability, and women’s issues. Before joining Hindustan Times, Ridhima worked with The Times of India, New Indian Express and News18. A native of Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, Ridhima completed her undergraduate studies in Biotechnology. And when she is not working as a journalist she likes to paint and go on nature hikes.Read More

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