Newsroom, February 25, 2026: The Union Health Ministry has cleared a landmark nationwide programme to provide free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to girls aged 14.
The voluntary single-dose shot uses Gardasil, a quadrivalent vaccine that guards against key HPV strains causing most cervical cancers in India.
Administered only at government facilities like Primary Health Centres and district hospitals, the drive emphasizes safety with trained staff and links to round-the-clock care.
Cervical cancer ranks as the second most common cancer among Indian women, claiming nearly 80,000 new cases and over 42,000 lives each year. Persistent high-risk HPV infection drives the majority of cases, yet vaccination before exposure offers strong, lasting protection backed by global evidence and over 500 million doses given worldwide.
