Centre Rolls Out Free HPV Vaccination for 14-Year-Old Girls, PM Modi Flags Off National Drive

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a nationwide Human Papillomavirus vaccination programme aimed at providing free inoculation to 14 year old girls, marking a significant step in India’s fight against cervical cancer.

The campaign seeks to expand access to preventive care for adolescent girls through the public health system. Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths among women in India, with late detection and limited awareness compounding the burden, particularly in rural and low income regions.

The government said the initiative will be implemented in coordination with state health departments and school networks to ensure broad coverage. Officials indicated that the vaccination drive is part of a wider push to strengthen women’s health services and improve early prevention strategies.

The Indian Medical Association welcomed the decision, calling it a long overdue intervention that could substantially reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in the coming decades. Public health experts have consistently advocated inclusion of the HPV vaccine in national immunisation efforts, arguing that early vaccination remains the most effective protection against the disease.

Health authorities are expected to monitor uptake and coverage closely as the programme scales up across states.