¨     The nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Programme for girls aged 14 years launched from Ajmer, Rajasthan, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

¨     The roll-out has been designed as a decisive public health intervention aimed at strengthening women’s healthcare across the country.
¨     Approximately 1.15 crore girls each year across all States and Union Territories will be targeted under this initiative.
¨     The vaccine will be provided free of cost at designated government health facilities nationwide.
¨     Vaccination services will be delivered through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, Community Health Centres, Sub-District and District Hospitals, and Government Medical Colleges.
¨     The administration of the vaccine will be carried out on a voluntary basis after obtaining informed consent from parents or guardians.
¨     Cervical cancer, which remains the second most common cancer among women in India, accounts for over 1.2 lakh new cases and nearly 80,000 deaths annually as per GLOBOCAN 2022 data.
¨     The quadrivalent HPV vaccine, Gardasil, will be utilised under the national programme to prevent high-risk HPV infections, particularly types 16 and 18.
¨     More than 80% of cervical cancer cases in India are caused by this.
¨     A special mission-mode campaign will be conducted for three months to ensure daily vaccination of eligible girls at designated centres.
¨     With this launch, India will join more than 160 countries that have incorporated HPV vaccination into their national immunisation schedules, thereby reinforcing preventive healthcare delivery.