PM Modi launches nationwide HPV vaccination campaign to protect girls from cervical cancer
Ajmer (Rajasthan), February 28, 2026 (ANI): In a landmark move to combat cervical cancer, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Campaign for 14-year-old girls from Ajmer, Rajasthan.
The campaign aims to significantly reduce the burden of cervical cancer, the second most common cancer among women in India, which records over 1.2 lakh new cases and nearly 80,000 deaths annually, according to WHO GLOBOCAN 2022 data.
Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister described the initiative as a decisive step toward safeguarding the health of India’s daughters and strengthening “Nari Shakti.” He emphasised that a healthy mother ensures a resilient family and highlighted the government’s continued focus on women’s dignity, health and welfare.
Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda joined the event virtually from Kartavya Bhawan in the presence of Anupriya Patel, Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, and senior officials from the Union Health Ministry. Leading medical experts, including Dr M Srinivas (AIIMS New Delhi) and senior officials from Safdarjung Hospital, RML Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College, were also present.
Persistent infection with high-risk HPV strains—especially types 16 and 18—is the primary cause of cervical cancer. India’s national programme will use Gardasil-4 (Quadrivalent vaccine covering HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18) in a single-dose schedule, in line with global scientific evidence and WHO recommendations.
The campaign will cover approximately 1.2 crore 14-year-old girls annually, based on Registrar General of India estimates. Vaccination will be conducted over a 90-day campaign mode at government health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (PHCs), CHCs, district hospitals and government medical colleges.
The vaccine will be administered as a single 0.5 ml intramuscular dose in the left upper arm. It is voluntary and free of cost, and will require mandatory parental or guardian consent.
Beneficiaries can pre-register on the U-WIN digital platform or opt for walk-in vaccination at designated centres. The U-WIN platform will manage registration and reporting, while the e-VIN portal will oversee vaccine logistics and stock management.
Vaccination will be deferred in cases of moderate or severe illness, severe allergic reactions to previous vaccines, yeast allergy, or if the girl falls outside the target age group. All sessions will be supervised by trained medical officers, with robust cold-chain management and 24x7 linkage facilities to handle any rare adverse events.
Globally, 160 of 194 countries have introduced HPV vaccines under national immunisation programmes, with 90 countries adopting a single-dose schedule. HPV vaccines are estimated to be 93–100 per cent effective in preventing cervical cancer caused by vaccine-covered strains, with strong herd immunity benefits observed in high-coverage settings.
Following the national launch in Ajmer, parallel rollout events were held across States and Union Territories.
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare urged parents to ensure their eligible daughters receive the HPV vaccine during the campaign, calling it a powerful preventive intervention to secure a cancer-free future for India’s young girls.