West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday launched a statewide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign aimed at protecting adolescent girls from cervical cancer, targeting around 7.65 lakh beneficiaries aged 14 years across the state.
The initiative, rolled out in line with the national HPV vaccination programme launched earlier this year, seeks to advance efforts towards eliminating cervical cancer as a public health threat.
“We are starting the vaccination programme for cervical cancer today at 235 health centres, including medical colleges and hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals, grameen (rural) hospitals, and block hospitals,” Adhikari said.
Under the drive, girls who have completed 14 years but are yet to turn 15 will receive a single dose of the quadrivalent Gardasil-4 vaccine free of cost at designated government health facilities.
Adhikari said the initiative forms part of the nationwide programme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 28.
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“I would like to thank Union Health Minister J P Nadda for providing 7,72,650 vaccine doses to Bengal free of cost, enabling us to launch this programme. In the coming days, we will carry out the campaign at 880 centres, and I urge everyone to cooperate with us,” the CM said.
A state government statement noted that cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women in India, with 78,499 new cases and 42,392 deaths reported in 2024.
Persistent HPV infection is linked to nearly all cervical cancer cases, while the vaccine offers “a near-total shield against the disease” with an effectiveness rate of 93–100 per cent.
It protects against HPV types 16 and 18, responsible for most cervical cancer cases, and types 6 and 11, which cause viral warts.
The statement added that over 50 crore doses have been administered globally without major safety concerns, while more than 36 lakh doses have been given in India since rollout.
“Minor reactions, such as mild fever or local swelling, typically resolve within 48-72 hours,” it said.
All vaccination sessions will be linked to nearby Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) management centres. Girls already vaccinated, acutely ill, or allergic to yeast will be excluded from the programme.
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