The Union Health Ministry has directed states to prepare for the rollout, which aims to cover all eligible 14-year-old girls.

National HPV Vaccine Drive: PM Modi to Launch Cervical Cancer Prevention Campaign on Feb 28

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign for 14-year-old girls from Ajmer, Rajasthan, on February 28, marking a major step in India’s efforts to eliminate preventable cervical cancer.

The campaign will introduce a single-dose schedule of the ‘Gardasil 4’ quadrivalent HPV vaccine across government health facilities nationwide. The vaccine provides protection against HPV types 16 and 18, which are responsible for nearly 70% of cervical cancer cases worldwide, as well as types 6 and 11.

The Union Health Ministry has directed states to prepare for the rollout, which aims to cover all eligible 14-year-old girls through government health centres, including primary health centres, community health centres, district hospitals and government medical colleges.

Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in India. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that India accounts for nearly one-fifth of global cervical cancer cases, making the country a critical partner in the Global Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer. Health experts have consistently emphasised that HPV vaccination, along with regular screening, is critical to reducing the disease burden.

With this initiative, India joins a growing number of countries implementing structured HPV immunisation programmes to combat cervical cancer at a population level.