National HPV vaccination: single-dose Gardasil-4 free for girls aged 14
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What happened
- A nationwide free HPV vaccination campaign began on 28 February 2026, targeting about 1.2 crore girls aged 14 across all 36 States/UTs with a single dose of Gardasil-4 [PIB].
- Vaccination sites are linked to 24×7 AEFI management centres [PIB].
Background
- HPV causes most cervical cancer cases, the second most common cancer among Indian women; WHO endorses a single-dose schedule.
Why it matters
- Prevention at scale supports WHO’s cervical-cancer elimination strategy.
How to use this in Mains
- As per PIB (2026-03-17): A nationwide free HPV vaccination campaign began on 28 February 2026, targeting about 1.2 crore girls aged 14 across all 36 States/UTs with a single dose of Gardasil-4.
- Prevention at scale supports WHO's cervical-cancer elimination strategy.
Quotable data pointVaccination sites are linked to 24x7 AEFI management centres.
PIB: Health: National HPV vaccination, 17 Mar 2026
Exam angle
UPSC
Prelims: HPV, cervical cancer.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
Practice · UPSC
Target age
Answer (b) & explanation
PIB.
Practice · UPSC
Target beneficiaries
Answer (b) & explanation
PIB.
Practice · UPSC
HPV vaccine prevents mainly
Answer (b) & explanation
PIB.
Go deeper
ExplainerOne Health Approach: Why Human, Animal and Environmental Health Are Linked, Zoonotic Diseases, the Global Quadripartite and India’s National One Health Mission (UPSC Notes + PYQs)ExplainerAntimicrobial Resistance (AMR): How Superbugs Arise, the Global and Indian Burden, Causes in Hospitals, Farms and the Environment, and India’s National Action Plan 2.0 (UPSC Notes + PYQs)
Official source: PIB: Health: National HPV vaccination, 17 Mar 2026
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending