India clears nationwide rollout of free HPV vaccine to curb cervical cancer

New Delhi: Decks have been cleared to launch the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in the country, in a landmark decision aimed to eliminate cervical cancer - one of the most common yet preventable cancers affecting women in India. The campaign proposes to target girls aged 14 years.

The vaccine will be voluntary and free of cost, sources in the health ministry told ET.

MSD's Gardasil-a single dose vaccine-will be used in the special vaccination programme to be introduced nationwide. "It is a quadrivalent HPV vaccine that protects against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause cervical cancer, as well as types 6 and 11," a person said. Cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in India, with nearly 80,000 new cases and over 42,000 deaths reported annually.


The HPV vaccination programme will be conducted exclusively at designated government health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (primary health centres), community health centres, sub-district and district hospitals, and government medical colleges.

"Each vaccination session will be carried out in the presence of trained medical officers, supported by skilled healthcare teams and equipped for post-vaccination observation and management of any rare adverse events. All vaccination sites will be linked to 24x7 government health facilities, ensuring immediate medical support and reinforcing safety and parental confidence," said another person in the know.

To ensure uninterrupted availability the government has already secured HPV vaccine supplies.

"Under India's partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, high-quality Gardasil vaccines-approved by India's drug regulator and widely used internationally-have been made available for the national programme.