Home / Health / Punjab HPV Vax Drive Lags: Only 9% Girls Vaccinated
Punjab HPV Vax Drive Lags: Only 9% Girls Vaccinated
5 Jun
Summary
- Only 26,339 girls vaccinated against HPV, far below target.
- Cervical cancer deaths are rising in Punjab; India leads globally.
- Low vaccine uptake due to myths about fertility impact.
Punjab's ambitious human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, aimed at protecting 3.11 lakh girls aged 14, has achieved minimal success, with only 26,339 receiving the vaccine by June 1. This represents just 9% of the target population, and official data indicates a concerningly slow pace.
The lagging campaign unfolds against a backdrop of rising cervical cancer deaths in Punjab. Between 2021 and 2025, the state recorded 3,502 such fatalities, with figures climbing from 691 in 2021 to 710 in 2025. India, as a whole, accounts for 25% of global cervical cancer deaths, ranking fourth worldwide in related morbidity.
Several districts exhibit alarmingly low vaccination rates, with Mohali and Jalandhar covering merely 1% of their target groups. Health officials are issuing notices to civil surgeons to accelerate efforts, with ASHA workers enlisted to boost coverage. A primary barrier identified is misinformation about the vaccine's potential negative impact on female fertility, a rumour health authorities are actively working to dispel through intensive information campaigns.
