Context

• The Government of India has announced the launch of a nationwide, voluntary, and free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign for 14-year-old girls to eliminate cervical cancer.

Key Highlights

Objective :

• The initiative aims to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer, one of the most common yet preventable cancers affecting women in India.

Target Group :

• Specifically for 14-year-old girls
• Approximately 11.5 million (1.15 crore) girls are expected to be covered annually

Administration & Cost :

• The vaccine will be available free of cost and voluntary
• Provided at government health centers such as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and district hospitals

Type of Vaccine :

• Currently, the Gardasil (quadrivalent vaccine) will be used
• Protects against HPV types 16 & 18 (cancer-causing) and 6 & 11 (cause genital warts)

Dosage :

• India has adopted the single-dose schedule in line with WHO recommendations

Duration :

• Initially launched as a 90-day (3-month) special campaign
• Later to be integrated into the routine immunization program

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

About HPV :

• A very common virus and one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) worldwide
• Comprises over 200 types, affecting the skin and mucous membranes
• In India, it is the leading cause of cervical cancer, the second most common cancer among women

Virus Type :

• A non-enveloped DNA virus

Target Group for Vaccination :

• Primarily 14-year-old adolescent girls

Classification of HPV

High-Risk Types :

• HPV 16 and 18
• Responsible for approximately 70% of cervical cancer cases

Low-Risk Types :

• HPV 6 and 11
• Mainly cause genital warts

Transmission and Impact

Transmission :

• Primarily through unprotected sexual contact
• Can also spread via close skin-to-skin intimate contact

Diseases Caused :

Besides cervical cancer, HPV can also cause:

• Anal cancer
• Vaginal cancer
• Penile cancer
• Oropharyngeal (throat) cancer

Symptoms :

• Most infections are asymptomatic
• Many resolve naturally through the body’s immune response

Prevention and Detection

Vaccination :

• Most effective between 9–14 years of age
• Vaccines available in India include CERVAVAC (indigenous vaccine) and Gardasil

Screening Methods :

• Pap Smear Test – Detects abnormal cell changes
• HPV DNA Test – Detects presence of the virus
• VIA (Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid) – Used in low-resource settings

Awareness :

• International HPV Awareness Day is observed annually on March 4

Cervical Cancer :

• Occurs when cells in the cervix (lower part of the uterus) grow abnormally
• Second most common cancer among women in India
• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly all cases are caused by HPV infection
• High-risk HPV types 16 and 18 account for about 70% of cases
• One of the most preventable cancers with timely vaccination and screening

WHO’s 90-70-90 Strategy (By 2030):

• 90% of girls fully vaccinated by age 15
• 70% of women screened at ages 35 and 45 with high-performance tests
• 90% of identified cases receive appropriate treatment

Situation in India :

• Cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in India
• Approximately 80,000 new cases and over 42,000 deaths are reported annually