India will introduce a free HPV immunization program for 14-year-old girls starting 28 February, with the campaign continuing through May

Summary:
India will launch a nationwide HPV vaccination campaign on 28 February to combat cervical cancer, which claims a woman’s life every seven minutes in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the drive from Ajmer, targeting all girls aged 14. The free, voluntary campaign will administer a single dose of Gardasil 4 vaccine at government health facilities, with parental consent required through the U-WIN portal or offline forms. The three-month initiative, running until May, includes clear eligibility guidelines, post-vaccination monitoring, and coordinated efforts across multiple departments and organisations. With nearly 80,000 new cases and over 42,000 deaths annually, the programme aims to significantly reduce cervical cancer among future generations. 

In India, a woman loses her life to cervical cancer every seven minutes. The illness offers no warning signs. It advances quietly, driven by a virus that many unknowingly carry. On 28 February, the Centre will take a decisive step to confront this reality.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the countrywide HPV vaccination campaign from Ajmer, Rajasthan, at 11:30 am on Friday. Simultaneously, chief ministers, administrators and health ministers from every state and Union Territory will join virtually to observe the launch. The focus is on every girl who has turned 14 but is yet to reach 15 years of age.

“Cervical cancer is a significant public health concern in our country as well as globally. It is caused by Human Papilloma Virus and it is the only cancer which can be prevented by a vaccine,” wrote Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and Mission Director (NHM), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in a communication to mission directors across states and Union Territories.

One dose, one day, one objective

The government will administer Gardasil 4, a quadrivalent single-dose vaccine delivered intramuscularly in the upper left arm. It provides protection against HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18, with types 16 and 18 responsible for over 80 percent of cervical cancer cases in India.

The vaccine will be provided at no cost and remains voluntary. Prior to administration, consent from a parent or guardian is mandatory—either through the government’s digital U-WIN portal or via a signed physical form where internet access is unavailable.

“We are committed to encourage vaccination for girls for the prevention of cervical cancer,” Patnaik stated.

Access points and procedure

Eligible girls may visit any government health facility equipped with a Cold Chain Point. These facilities include Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres, Sub-District and District Hospitals, as well as Government Medical Colleges. Vaccination sessions will typically operate between 9 am and 2 pm, though states may extend timings to weekends and public holidays depending on local requirements.

Following vaccination, recipients must remain at the centre for 30 minutes for observation. To reduce anxiety, activity-based engagement will be arranged in observation areas, and refreshments will be available for girls who arrive without having eaten. Each vaccination site will be connected to a 24×7 health facility to provide support beyond regular hours. Certificates issued through U-WIN will list the nearest emergency contact address along with a helpline number.

The intensive campaign will continue for three months, concluding at the end of May. Girls turning 15 within 90 days from the launch date will also be eligible during this period. After the campaign ends, the vaccine will continue to be offered on routine immunisation days at the same centres.

Eligibility criteria

Clear guidelines define who may receive the vaccine. Girls experiencing moderate or severe illness must defer vaccination until recovery. Those with a known yeast allergy or a prior serious vaccine-related reaction should not take the shot. The vaccine is not intended for pregnant girls or individuals outside the 14-year age bracket.

Girls who have previously received any HPV vaccine—whether Gardasil, Gardasil-9, Cervarix or Cervavac—will not be given another dose. Their vaccination records will instead be updated on the U-WIN system.

Operational framework

Each on-ground vaccination team will comprise a vaccinator, an ASHA or Anganwadi mobiliser, a verifier from the health facility staff and a field volunteer. During the three-month drive, vaccinated girls will be identified with a mark on the left index finger.

Distribution and supply management will be handled through the e-VIN system. States have already been supplied with doses aligned to their respective target groups. Training has been conducted for officials across all states and Union Territories by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Patnaik’s communication underscores the need for collaboration beyond the health sector. Departments including Education, Women and Child Development, Tribal Affairs, Panchayati Raj, Youth Affairs and Information and Broadcasting are expected to coordinate efforts. Professional organisations such as FOGSI, IMA, IAP, Lions Club, Rotary and various cancer societies are also being called upon to support the initiative.

“I solicit your support in the successful rollout of the HPV vaccination so that all eligible girls aged 14 years in the country receive the HPV vaccine to safeguard them from cervical cancer,” Patnaik wrote.

India registers nearly 80,000 new cervical cancer cases annually and records more than 42,000 deaths each year from the disease. On Friday morning in Ajmer, the government will begin an effort aimed at ensuring that future generations of girls are no longer counted among these figures.