PM Modi Launched India’s First Nationwide HPV Vaccination Campaign in Rajasthan | 03 Mar 2026

Why in News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign from Rajasthan, aiming to prevent cervical cancer by immunising adolescent girls across India. 

Key Points:

• Objective: The campaign was formally launched to provide protection against cervical cancer, a leading women’s health concern, by administering HPV vaccines to eligible girls.
  • The programme focuses on 14‑year‑old girls across all states and Union Territories.
• Vaccine Details: A single dose of the Gardasil‑4 vaccine, which protects against multiple HPV types including HPV‑16 and HPV‑18 (major causes of cervical cancer), will be administered under the drive.
• Implementation: Vaccination sessions will be held at designated national health centres, including Primary Health Centres (Ayushman Arogya Mandirs), Community Health Centres, district hospitals and government medical colleges.
  • The vaccination is voluntary and requires consent from a parent or guardian before administration.
• Coverage: The initiative plans to cover approximately 1.15 crore girls aged 14 years every year, strengthening long‑term preventive healthcare against HPV‑related cancers.
• Impact: Cervical cancer remains a significant public health challenge in India, and the HPV vaccination campaign aims to reduce the incidence of this preventable cancer over time.
• Significance: The nationwide HPV vaccination campaign marks a historic public health milestone, expanding immunisation coverage for adolescent girls and integrating cancer prevention into the national preventive healthcare agenda.