Jaipur, Feb 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign for 14 year old girls on Saturday from Kayad in Ajmer, Rajasthan. The initiative aims to prevent cervical cancer by administering a single-dose HPV vaccine to girls across the country.
During the event, several beneficiaries received the vaccine, and the prime minister interacted with the young girls, emphasizing the importance of preventive healthcare.
Officials confirmed that the campaign will use the quadrivalent “Gardasil 4” vaccine, which protects against HPV strains 16 and 18, linked to cervical cancer, as well as strains 6 and 11.
The Union Health Ministry, in a directive to states on February 25, clarified that all 14 year old girls will receive the single dose vaccine at government health facilities, including Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres, district and sub-district hospitals, and government medical colleges.
The campaign is part of India’s broader effort to strengthen preventive healthcare and reduce cervical cancer cases nationwide.