India Crosses 80 Lakh HPV Vaccine Doses in Cervical Cancer Prevention Drive

India has administered more than 80 lakh, or 8 million, doses of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine under its national HPV vaccination campaign, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to strengthen cervical cancer prevention.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said the campaign, launched in February 2026, provides a free and voluntary single-dose HPV vaccination to eligible 14-year-old girls at government health facilities, with parental consent. The programme is designed to expand access to preventive healthcare and increase protection against HPV-related diseases, including cervical cancer.

According to the ministry, approximately 1.2 crore girls form the annual cohort of 14-year-olds expected to benefit from the initiative, based on Registrar General of India estimates from 2021. The campaign is therefore being implemented through state and district-level health systems to reach eligible beneficiaries across urban, rural and geographically challenging areas.

Several states have reported substantial progress. Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram have achieved 100% coverage of their identified target populations. Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Assam have crossed 90%, while Karnataka has reported more than 85% coverage. Chhattisgarh, Sikkim, Kerala, Telangana and Odisha have crossed 60%.

Uttar Pradesh has recorded the highest number of vaccinations among states, with more than 22 lakh adolescent girls vaccinated under the campaign.

The programme is also using India’s digital health infrastructure. The U-WIN platform allows programme managers to monitor vaccination coverage at district level, identify gaps and missed beneficiaries, and improve planning and allocation of resources.

The government said vaccination sessions are being conducted under the supervision of trained medical officers. Government health facilities are also linked with 24-hour healthcare facilities for assessment and management of rare adverse events following immunisation.

The campaign has also involved paediatricians, gynaecologists, healthcare institutions, teachers, ASHA workers and ANMs in awareness and mobilisation efforts. The ministry said community engagement is important for addressing concerns and misinformation surrounding HPV vaccination.

The milestone comes as HPV vaccination continues to become an important component of cervical cancer prevention strategies globally. The government cited more than 800 million HPV vaccine doses distributed worldwide and noted that a growing number of countries have incorporated HPV vaccines into national immunisation programmes.

With the campaign moving towards its final phase, the government says the focus remains on reaching eligible beneficiaries who have not yet received the vaccine.

The 80-lakh-dose milestone highlights the growing role of vaccination within India’s preventive healthcare infrastructure and the importance of combining immunisation programmes with awareness, digital tracking and community-level healthcare delivery.