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GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
RAJYASABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2850
TO BE ANSWERED ON 17thMARCH 2026
NATIONALHPVVACCINATION PROGRAMME IN THE COUNTRY
2850.DR. PARMARJASHVANTSINHSALAMSINH :
SHRI NARHARIAMIN :
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE be pleasedtostate:
(a) whether Government has launched a nationwide National HPV (Human Papillomavirus)
VaccinationProgramme across all StatesandUnion Territories, if so, the detailsthereof;
(b) the objectives, scope and implementation framework of the programme, including the targeted age
group, coverage strategy and measures taken to ensure equitable access, particularly in rural and
underserved areas;
(c) whether the programme forms part of Government’s strategy for elimination of cervical cancer in
the country; and
(d) the scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of the HPV vaccine in preventing cervical
cancerandotherHPV-related diseases, including the percentageefficacy reportedinclinicalstudies?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE INTHE MINISTRYOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE
(SMT.ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a) & (b) The Nationwide free HPV vaccination campaign was launched on 28th February 2026,
targeting approximately 1.2 crore eligible beneficiary girls aged 14 years across all 36 States and
Union Territories. The single-dose Gardasil-4 vaccine is administered free of cost at government
health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs- Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community
Health Centers (CHCs), Sub-District Hospitals (SDH)/District Hospitals (DHs) & Government
Medical Colleges (GMCs) ) across all areasincluding rural and underserved area. After the campaign
durationof three-months, the vaccine will continue tobe availableonroutine immunizationdays.
The vaccines are being administered in the presence of medical officers and the vaccination sites are
linked to 24x7 Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) Management Centers for prompt
management of adverse events, if any. HPV vaccination is voluntary and parental consent is
mandatory before administration of vaccine. The operational guidelines for the roll out of HPV
vaccinationcampaign have beendisseminated toall States/UTs.
(c) The Government of India has implemented comprehensive prevention strategies against cervical
cancer, encompassing a multi-faceted approach that includes screening, early diagnosis, and timely
treatment, aiming to reduce the burden of this disease among women in the country. Complementing
these initiatives, HPV vaccination, based on global evidence, has been envisaged to play a significant
role inreducingcervical cancerincidenceinIndia.
(d) Details of efficacy of approved HPV vaccines are published in Summary of Product
Characteristics(SmPC) which are publiclyavailableonCDSCO website.
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