📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Vyacheslav Argenberg
Health
India Starts Free HPV Vaccination Drive on Feb 28 to Combat Cervical Cancer
✍️ Mshale
🗓 28 Aug 2026, 01:02 PM
👁 4
The government has launched a nationwide free HPV vaccination programme beginning Feb 28, aimed at reducing cervical cancer cases across India.
New Delhi — The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced the rollout of a free human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive across India, scheduled to begin on February 28. The initiative is part of the government's effort to curb the rising incidence of cervical cancer, which remains a leading cause of death among women in the country.
The programme will make the HPV vaccine available at government health centres and designated vaccination sites at no cost to beneficiaries. Health officials said the free supply is intended to increase coverage, especially among populations that have limited access to preventive healthcare.
While detailed operational guidelines will be issued to state health departments in the coming weeks, the central government has emphasized that the drive aligns with its broader public‑health objectives of disease prevention and early intervention. The launch marks a significant step toward meeting the World Health Organization’s target of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem.
The vaccination drive will be monitored through existing health information systems to track uptake and assess impact over time. Authorities have urged citizens to take advantage of the free vaccine and consult local health facilities for eligibility and scheduling details.
The initiative reflects a continued commitment by the Indian government to expand preventive health services and address gender‑specific health challenges through accessible, cost‑free interventions.
The programme will make the HPV vaccine available at government health centres and designated vaccination sites at no cost to beneficiaries. Health officials said the free supply is intended to increase coverage, especially among populations that have limited access to preventive healthcare.
While detailed operational guidelines will be issued to state health departments in the coming weeks, the central government has emphasized that the drive aligns with its broader public‑health objectives of disease prevention and early intervention. The launch marks a significant step toward meeting the World Health Organization’s target of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem.
The vaccination drive will be monitored through existing health information systems to track uptake and assess impact over time. Authorities have urged citizens to take advantage of the free vaccine and consult local health facilities for eligibility and scheduling details.
The initiative reflects a continued commitment by the Indian government to expand preventive health services and address gender‑specific health challenges through accessible, cost‑free interventions.