Why in news?
India launched a major nationwide HPV vaccination campaign in late February 2026 to combat cervical cancer.
Key Details of the Campaign
- Target group: 14-year-old girls across all States and Union Territories.
- Vaccine used: Gardasil 4, a quadrivalent HPV vaccine protecting against HPV types 16 and 18 (linked to cervical cancer) and types 6 and 11 (which cause genital warts).
- Administration: Free vaccination at government health centres.
- Objective: To significantly reduce cervical cancer incidence, which remains a major public health concern in India.
- Scale: All States and Union Territories joined virtually during the launch event, marking it as one of India’s largest preventive health initiatives.
Significance
- Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Indian women, with thousands of new cases annually.
- Preventive vaccination at adolescence is globally recognized as the most effective way to reduce future cervical cancer burden.
- This campaign represents a shift in India’s public health strategy—expanding vaccination drives beyond childhood diseases to include adolescent preventive care
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