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Maharashtra Girls First HPV Vaccine Launch
1 Mar
Summary
- Five Class 9 girls received the first HPV vaccines in Maharashtra.
- The campaign aims to prevent cervical cancer, second most common in Indian women.
- Mumbai targets 130,000 girls aged 14-15 in the first phase.
Maharashtra's cervical cancer prevention campaign commenced on Saturday, with five Class 9 students in Mumbai receiving the inaugural HPV vaccinations.
The state-level launch took place at Topiwala National Medical College and Bai Y L Nair Charitable Hospital, marking a significant step in public health. The vaccination drive is part of a nationwide effort to combat cervical cancer, which is the second most prevalent cancer among women in India.
Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar urged parents to ensure their daughters receive the vaccine, emphasizing its safety and effectiveness. The first phase in Mumbai will vaccinate 24,936 girls from municipal schools, with plans to extend to private and aided institutions later. The program targets girls aged 14 but not yet 15, expecting around 130,000 beneficiaries in the city.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has secured 20,160 doses of Gardasil-4 and trained a substantial number of healthcare professionals and volunteers. Vaccinations will be administered across 284 civic health facilities.
