HPV Vaccination

The Hindu, Page 10, Editorial - A shot at life, Mandsaur’s model for HPV vaccination - GS-2-Health

Why in news: The Government of India launched a nationwide cervical cancer campaign in February 2026, providing free HPV vaccinations to 1.15 crore girls aged 14-15 years.

Need for HPV Vaccination

• Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Indian women. India reports over 1.2 lakh new cases and 80,000 deaths annually. Nearly 95% of cases are caused by high-risk HPV strains.
• Preventive health-care initiatives face low levels of awareness, social stigma, and vaccine hesitancy.

Mandsaur’s Implementation Strategy

• The district adopted a data-driven, decentralised and adaptive strategy. Girls from Banchhadas, nomadic tribes, urban slums, and school dropouts were targeted first.
• Multiple databases, including RBSK, SAMAGRA MP and Ladli Laxmi Yojana, were used to create hyper-localised target lists. Door-to-door surveys, SAMAGRA IDs, and Master Line Lists ensured eligible girls did not fall through statistical gaps.
• Low-coverage/high-resistance areas were identified for coordinated micro-planning.

Behavioural Interventions

• The district adopted the "Nudge Approach" to make vaccination the default choice. Families who refused vaccination received repeated counselling visits.
• Schools and local bodies arranged transportation to reduce logistical barriers.
• Gen-Z influencers, athletes, doctors, students, religious leaders, and media personalities promoted vaccination and countered misinformation.
• Peer champions, public recognition, and digital nudges strengthened participation and monitoring.
• Vaccinations were conducted under medical supervision at visible health-care facilities. Counselling sessions helped reduce stigma and misinformation.

Outcomes

• The campaign was integrated with routine immunisation days, antenatal care clinics, and the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan. In less than 40 days, Mandsaur achieved 100% of its vaccination target.

Way forward

• Behavioural and systemic nudges can bridge the gap between intended outcomes and ground realities.
• Health-care data and grassroots innovations tailored to regional realities can bridge the last mile.
• Moving from coverage to care and data to impact can turn a public health challenge into a collective mass movement.

Static Information - HPV Vaccine

• PM launched campaign to vaccinate 1.15 crore 14-year-old girls with Gardasil-4 in Ajmer, Rajasthan.
• Gardasil-4, developed by Merck, is part of immunisation programmes in several countries. Cervavac, indigenous quadrivalent HPV vaccine, was launched in 2022. Phase ⅔ trials showed Cervavac was “non inferior” to Gardasil.
• Absence of Cervavac from UIP is due to an ongoing ICMR study on single-dose effectiveness.
• WHO cited low HPV vaccine coverage and the 2030 target of 90% coverage.

Static Information - Cervical Cancer

• Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by persistent infection with high-risk types of HPV, particularly 16 and 18. These 2 types together account for more than 80% of cervical cancer cases in India.
• Cervical cancer is largely preventable through HPV vaccination and regular screening.
• South-East Asia Region accounts for the second-highest cervical cancer incident (new cases) and death rate among WHO regions, with India contributing over 65% of the burden. WHO African Region (AFRO) holds the 1st position
• It is the second most common cancer in women in India.

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