Overview
- The national HPV drive launched on Feb. 28 targets about 12 million 14‑year‑old girls with a WHO‑endorsed single‑dose Gardasil‑4 regimen to speed protection against cervical cancer.
- Punjab has recorded very low uptake with 26,339 vaccinations against a 311,000 target as of June 1 and many districts reporting just 1–4 percent coverage, prompting official notices to civil surgeons.
- West Bengal began its state rollout in Bidhannagar with modest early demand, administering 11 free doses at launch while aiming to vaccinate 750,000 girls over three months with Centre‑supplied doses.
- Health officials point to persistent misinformation—notably false claims about fertility harm—as the main barrier to demand and are mobilising ASHA workers, review meetings, U‑WIN digital tracking, and partner communications to counter rumours.
- The programme uses Gavi‑supplied Gardasil‑4 while India’s indigenous Cervavac awaits WHO clearance, and low uptake risks leaving high cervical‑cancer burden populations exposed unless outreach, transparent safety reporting, and school delivery are scaled up.