Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Programme for girls aged 14 years on Saturday at 11:30 am from Ajmer, Rajasthan, marking a significant step in strengthening preventive healthcare across the country.
The nationwide rollout is aimed at protecting adolescent girls against cervical cancer and advancing the government’s focus on women’s health. The initiative aligns with the vision of “Swastha Nari”, placing prevention, protection and equity at the centre of healthcare delivery for women.
The programme is expected to cover approximately 1.15 crore girls aged 14 years annually across all States and Union Territories. The HPV vaccine will be administered free of cost at designated government health facilities.
Vaccination sessions will be conducted at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Primary Health Centres), Community Health Centres, Sub-District and District Hospitals, as well as Government Medical Colleges and Hospitals. Each session will be supervised by trained medical officers and supported by healthcare teams.
Officials said all vaccination sites will have functional Cold Chain Points to maintain vaccine safety standards and will be linked to 24×7 government health facilities to ensure immediate medical response in the rare event of Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI).
The vaccination will be voluntary, with informed consent required from parents or guardians before administration.
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. Following the campaign phase, the HPV vaccine will continue to be available under the routine immunisation schedule.
Separately, a Delhi-based hospital recently recorded a world record for collecting the highest number of cervical cancer screening samples within an eight-hour period during a large-scale screening camp, highlighting the growing focus on early detection and prevention of cervical cancer.
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