Centre to launch free nationwide HPV vaccination for adolescent girls
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The Union Health Ministry is set to launch a nationwide Human Papillomavirus vaccination campaign for girls aged 14 years, later in February, The Indian Express reported on Wednesday quoting unidentified officials.
The vaccination will be voluntary and free of cost, The Hindu reported.
During the first 90 days after the launch of the campaign, girls aged 14 years will be able to get the HPV vaccine at government health centres, The Indian Express reported. Following this period, girls in the same age group will be able to book a vaccination slot at their nearest health and wellness centre using the U-win portal.
Every year, 1.1 crore girls who turn 14 will be eligible for the vaccine.
“The decision to introduce the vaccine at the age of 14 years was taken because evidence suggests it is the age at which immunisation results in the strongest and longest protection,” unidentified officials told the newspaper.
The vaccination programme will use a single shot of Gardasil, a quadrivalent HPV vaccine, that provides protection against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause cervical cancer, PTI reported. It will also protect against types 6 and 11, which tend to cause genital warts and rarely cause cancer
According to The Hindu, India has secured vaccine supplies via a partnership with Gavi, the global Vaccine Alliance.
“The procurement follows stringent quality and cold chain standards, enabling the...