Newz Desk, Durgapur: In a major public health push, the Union Health Ministry is set to launch a nationwide cervical cancer vaccination programme for adolescent girls. The free vaccination drive is expected to begin later this week, targeting 14-year-old girls across the country.
According to official sources, the government has set an ambitious annual target of vaccinating nearly 11.5 million girls. The programme is aimed at preventing cervical cancer, one of the most common cancers affecting women in India.
Cervical cancer is primarily caused by persistent infection with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Health experts have long stressed that timely vaccination during early adolescence significantly reduces the risk of developing the disease later in life. The vaccine is considered most effective when administered before exposure to the virus.
The nationwide rollout will be carried out through schools and designated health centres, in coordination with state health departments. Awareness campaigns are also expected to accompany the drive to inform parents and guardians about the safety and importance of the vaccine.
Dr. G. Vishnu Vandana- Apollo Information Centre, Durgapur said “Persistent HPV infection is known to cause nearly 85% of all cervical cancers. This is important considering cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer among women, affecting nearly 1.25 lakh and killing 75,000 each year. HPV vaccination using the four most common strains known to cause cervical cancer has been shown to prevent most infections and thereby cancers. Studies from Sweden and England in 2020-2021 also demonstrated that vaccination in teenage years could reduce the risk of cervical cancer by over 85 per cent at age 30.
Public health officials believe the initiative could substantially reduce the burden of cervical cancer in the coming decades, particularly in rural and underserved regions where screening facilities are limited.
India records a significant number of cervical cancer cases each year, and experts have repeatedly called for large-scale immunisation as a preventive strategy. With the Centre now stepping in with a free vaccination programme, the move is being seen as a decisive step toward strengthening women’s healthcare and preventive medicine in the country
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