New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Programme for 14-year-old girls on Friday at 11:30 AM from Ajmer, Rajasthan, marking a major step in strengthening preventive healthcare for women.

According to an official release, the rollout is being seen as a landmark initiative aligned with the government’s vision of “Swastha Nari”, placing prevention, protection and equity at the centre of women’s healthcare.

Targeting 1.15 crore girls annually

The programme aims to cover approximately 1.15 crore girls aged 14 years every year across all States and Union Territories. The HPV vaccine will be provided free of cost at designated government health facilities.

Vaccination sessions will be conducted at Ayushman Arogya Mandir (Primary Health Centres), Community Health Centres, Sub-District and District Hospitals, as well as government medical colleges and hospitals.

Each vaccination site will be supervised by trained Medical Officers and supported by skilled healthcare teams. Functional Cold Chain Points (CCPs) will be in place to maintain vaccine quality, and all centres will be linked to 24x7 government health facilities to manage any rare Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI).

The vaccination will be voluntary, with informed consent required from parents or guardians before administration.

Three-month mission mode campaign

The special campaign will be conducted in mission mode over a three-month period, during which eligible girls can receive the vaccine daily at designated facilities. After the campaign phase, the vaccine will continue to be available on routine immunisation days.

HPV vaccination is widely regarded as a key preventive measure against cervical cancer, which remains one of the leading cancers affecting women in India.

Screening efforts gain momentum

Earlier this month, Novaneo Hospital entered the Guinness World Records for collecting the highest number of cervical cancer (Pap/HPV) screening samples within an eight-hour window. The record was set during a mega carcinoma cervix screening camp organised in collaboration with Delhi Cancer Hospital and the All India Terapanth Mahila Mandal at the Novaneo Hospital campus in Delhi’s Budh Vihar.

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The nationwide HPV vaccination rollout is expected to complement such screening initiatives and significantly strengthen India’s efforts to reduce the burden of cervical cancer in the coming years.