India administers 8 million HPV vaccine doses in six months since national campaign launch

India has administered over 8 million free, single-dose HPV vaccine doses to 14-year-old girls in the six months following the February 28, 2026 launch of its national campaign. The initiative targets cervical cancer, which causes 123,000 new diagnoses annually in India. Uttar Pradesh leads with 2.2 million vaccinations, while states like Gujarat and Mizoram have achieved 100% coverage. The campaign leverages the U-WIN digital platform and extensive community mobilization to counter misinformation.

National HPV vaccination campaign progress

• ▪India has administered over 8 million (80 lakh) human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine doses to adolescent girls since launching its nationwide campaign on February 28, 2026
• ▪According to Registrar General of India 2021 estimates, approximately 12 million (1.2 crore) girls constitute the annual cohort of 14-year-olds expected to benefit from the HPV vaccination initiative
• ▪The National HPV Vaccination Campaign provides the single-dose Gardasil-4 vaccine voluntarily and free of cost to 14-year-old girls at government health facilities, subject to parental consent

State-level vaccination coverage

• ▪Chhattisgarh, Sikkim, Kerala, Telangana, and Odisha have crossed 60% HPV vaccination coverage under the national campaign
• ▪Uttar Pradesh has recorded the highest number of HPV vaccinations under the campaign, with more than 2.2 million (22 lakh) adolescent girls vaccinated
• ▪Five Indian states, including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Mizoram, have achieved 100% vaccination coverage of their respective identified target populations
• ▪Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Assam have crossed 90% HPV vaccination coverage, while Karnataka has achieved 85% coverage under the national campaign

Cervical cancer burden in India

• ▪India accounts for approximately one-fifth of all cervical cancer cases globally and one-quarter of all cervical cancer deaths, with 123,000 new diagnoses annually
• ▪Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India

Digital health infrastructure monitoring

• ▪Vaccination sessions are linked to 24x7 adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) management centres to ensure prompt monitoring and treatment of any adverse events
• ▪The Indian government leveraged its digital health infrastructure by requiring beneficiaries to register on the U-WIN platform to monitor HPV vaccination coverage and identify gaps

Community mobilization efforts

• ▪Health authorities are coordinating with schools, local bodies, and healthcare workers to ensure smooth access to the HPV vaccine across rural, urban, and remote areas
• ▪The National HPV Vaccination Campaign has engaged parents, teachers, and frontline health workers to address concerns and counter misinformation regarding the vaccine

Healthcare provider involvement

• ▪Frontline health workers, including ASHAs and ANMs, have actively supported community mobilization and awareness efforts for the HPV vaccination campaign
• ▪Healthcare providers, including paediatricians, gynaecologists, and experts from institutions such as AIIMS, have supported awareness and mobilization efforts across states

Debatable claims

• ▪India should make the HPV vaccine mandatory for school-aged girls
• ▪India should expand its national HPV vaccination campaign to include boys
• ▪India should transition its HPV vaccination campaign to a multi-dose regimen