India Vaccinates 8 Million Girls Against HPV

India has achieved a significant milestone, vaccinating 8 million adolescent girls against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) over the last six months. This achievement is part of the National HPV Vaccination Campaign, launched on February 28, 2026, with the primary goal of preventing cervical cancer. The campaign offers a voluntary, free, single-dose HPV vaccination to 14-year-old girls, requiring parental consent, at government health facilities. Five states—Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Mizoram—have reported 100% coverage of their identified target populations. Uttar Pradesh vaccinated over 2.2 million girls, the highest number nationally. Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Assam have surpassed 90% coverage. This progress highlights coordinated efforts between states and Union Territories, robust community engagement, and the active involvement of district health teams. The campaign leverages India's digital health infrastructure through the U-WIN platform for monitoring and planning. Global evidence supports the efficacy of a single HPV vaccine dose, as endorsed by the WHO in 2022, making it a key component of national cervical cancer prevention strategies. The government is ensuring all vaccinations are supervised by trained medical officers and linked to 24/7 healthcare facilities for managing any rare adverse events.