In India, 14 year old girls are being given free HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine to prevent cervical cancer. On September 11, 2026, the Health Ministry said that under the National HPV Vaccination Campaign, more than 80 lakh HPV vaccines have been given, maximum of which more than 22 lakh adolescent girls have been vaccinated in Uttar Pradesh. Let us tell you that HPV vaccine is a vaccine that protects the body from human papillomavirus, this virus is mainly responsible for causing cervical cancer and genital warts.
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women in India. In India, about 80,000 women die every year due to this. To reduce this risk, on 28 February 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi started the free HPV vaccine campaign across the country from Ajmer. Under this campaign, about 1.15 crore girls aged 14 years are being given free vaccine in government hospitals, which protects against cervical cancer. Under this campaign, which started in February 2026, more than 80 lakh vaccine doses have been given so far.
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More than 80 lakh vaccines have been administered under the campaign
On September 11, 2026, the Health Ministry said that more than 80 lakh HPV vaccine doses have been given under this campaign. Maximum 22 lakh adolescent girls have been vaccinated in Uttar Pradesh. Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram have achieved 100 percent coverage of their set target. Under this campaign, 4-year-old girls are being given one dose of HPV vaccine free of cost with parental consent at government health centres. The government has included about 1.2 crore eligible girls under the ambit of this campaign.
How big is the risk of cervical cancer in India?
On 28 February 2026, the government said that cervical cancer is one of the major cancers in women in India. According to GLOBOCAN 2022 estimates, about 80 thousand women die from cervical cancer every year in India. That means every day about 9 women in the country lose their lives due to this dangerous cancer. According to this estimate, about 1.2 lakh new cervical cancer cases are reported every year in India.
To reduce this threat, the Central Government has started a free HPV vaccination campaign for 14 year old girls. Under this campaign, which started in February 2026, more than 80 lakh HPV vaccine doses have been given till 11 September 2026.
How much vaccine has reached the places where deaths occur the most?
If we look at the data presented in the Parliament recently, Uttar Pradesh is the state in the country which has the highest estimated number of deaths due to this cancer. UP-Tamil Nadu have emerged as the biggest centers of this disease. The situation in Madhya Pradesh is also scary, where this disease is included in the list of top states. Uttar Pradesh, which has become the stronghold of cervical cancer, has become the biggest center of this disease in the country. Madhya Pradesh ranks sixth in the country in terms of deaths and cases.
At the same time, according to the latest data received on September 11, under the HPV vaccine campaign, maximum number of more than 22 lakh adolescent girls have been vaccinated in Uttar Pradesh. Maximum 22 lakh adolescent girls have been vaccinated in Uttar Pradesh. According to the data, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram have achieved 100 percent coverage of their set target. Bihar has achieved the target of 90 percent and Karnataka has achieved 85 percent.