In New Delhi, on February 24, the Union government will soon launch a nationwide human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program targeting girls aged 14, a major step towards eliminating preventable cancers among women, official sources said on Tuesday.
The program will use a single-dose Gardasil vaccine, a quadrivalent HPV vaccine, which protects against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause cervical cancer, as well as types 6 and 11.
This initiative aligns with the World Health Organization's recommendations, which consider HPV vaccination a central element of the Global Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer.
"Strong scientific evidence confirms that a single dose provides robust and durable protection when administered to girls in the recommended age group," an official source stated.
The program will target girls aged 14, an age at which the HPV vaccine offers maximum preventive benefit, well before potential exposure to the virus.
Quadrivalent Gardasil-4 is a two-dose vaccine, costing Rs 3,927 each, for girls under 15 years. For those over 15, three doses are required. Gardasil-4 is manufactured by MSD India.
"Vaccination under the national program will be voluntary and free of cost, ensuring equitable access across socio-economic groups. By prioritizing prevention at the right age, the program is expected to provide lifelong protection and significantly reduce the future burden of cervical cancer in the country," the source said.
The vaccine has an excellent safety record, supported by more than 500 million doses administered globally since its introduction in 2006. Widespread vaccination has led to substantial reductions in HPV infection, precancerous lesions, and cervical cancer incidence in several countries.
Once the vaccination program is launched, India will join 160 countries that have introduced HPV vaccination in their national immunization schedules. Over 90 countries are implementing single-dose HPV vaccination schedules, an official source said.
HPV vaccines are among the most extensively studied vaccines worldwide, with evidence demonstrating 93 to 100 per cent effectiveness in preventing cervical cancer caused by vaccine-covered HPV types.
"The upcoming nationwide rollout (of the vaccination program) is a significant milestone towards achieving the vision of 'Swastha Nari', ensuring that prevention, protection, and equity form the foundation of women's healthcare in the country," an official source said.
According to data, cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in India, with nearly 80,000 new cases and over 42,000 deaths reported annually.
Scientific evidence establishes that almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by persistent infection with high-risk types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), particularly HPV types 16 and 18, which together account for more than 80 per cent of cervical cancer cases in India.
Despite being largely preventable through vaccination and early screening, cervical cancer continues to impose a heavy burden on women and families.
According to sources, the forthcoming vaccination program directly addresses this challenge by preventing HPV infection before it can progress to cancer. The drive will be conducted at designated government health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Primary Health Centres).
All vaccination sites will be linked to 24/7 government health facilities, ensuring immediate medical support and reinforcing safety and parental confidence.
To ensure uninterrupted availability and uncompromised quality, the government has secured HPV vaccine supplies through a transparent, globally supported procurement mechanism, another official source said.
Under India's partnership with Gavi - The Vaccine Alliance, high-quality Gardasil vaccines -- approved by India's drug regulator and widely used internationally -- have been made available for the national program.
"Parents and guardians across the country should come forward and ensure that their 14-year-old daughters are vaccinated against HPV once the program is rolled out," the source said.
The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE) evaluated in 2022 the evidence that has been emerging over the past years that single-dose schedules provide comparable efficacy to the two or three-dose regimens and concluded that a single-dose vaccine provides adequate protection against HPV, which is comparable to two-dose schedules.
Also, a WHO Position Paper on HPV Vaccine in December 2022 concluded that, as an off-label option, a single-dose schedule can be used in girls and boys aged 9–20 years.
Current evidence suggests that a single dose schedule has comparable efficacy and duration of protection as a two- dose schedule and may offer programme advantages, be more efficient and affordable, and contribute to improved coverage, it stated.
It also concluded that a minimum of two doses and, when feasible, three doses are necessary for those known to be immunocompromised and/or HIV-infected.