The health ministry said it is closely monitoring cervical cancer cases in the country and is in regular touch with state health departments.
Studies done in India have indicated that the efficacy of a single dose of the HPV vaccine is more than 95 per cent. (Creative Commons)
The Union Health Ministry has denied reports that the government will roll out the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign in the second quarter of 2024 as it is yet to decide on the rollout of HPV vaccination against cervical cancer in the country.
The ministry said it is closely monitoring cervical cancer cases in the country and is in regular touch with states and various health departments.
It said media reports speculating that the government will launch a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign in the second quarter of 2024 to target girls in the 9-14 age group are “not true”.
The HPV vaccine is a preventive measure against various strains of the HPV, a common sexually transmitted infection linked to genital warts and certain cancers.
Administered through a series of shots, the vaccine induces an immune response, producing antibodies to protect against HPV infection. It primarily guards against HPV types associated with cervical, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers.
Vaccination is typically recommended for adolescents before sexual activity initiation for optimal effectiveness.
In June 2022, the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) recommended the introduction of the HPV vaccine in the universal immunisation programme with “a one-time catch-up” for adolescent girls in the 9-14 age group followed by routine introduction at nine years.
The NTAGI recommendation was based on fresh evidence on disease burden, evidence on the effectiveness of a single dose of HPV vaccine, clinical trial data and experience of the Government of Sikkim on the introduction of the vaccine.
In India, cervical cancer ranks as the second most prevalent cancer among women, with the country bearing the highest share of the global burden, as per government data.
Cervical cancer is both preventable and curable when identified early and managed effectively. Since most cases are linked to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), administering the HPV vaccine before girls or women are exposed to the virus can prevent a majority of cervical cancer cases.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) emphasises vaccination as a key element in its global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer.
Earlier the health ministry had said that the vaccination initiative would be implemented at healthcare facilities, with a specific focus on reaching out-of-school girls through community outreach and mobile teams.
The Health Ministry has notified state governments about these efforts to launch the campaign, underscoring the importance of widespread vaccination to combat cervical cancer in India.
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