HPV Vaccination (Health, Diseases and Biotechnology)
HPV Vaccination (Health, Diseases and Biotechnology)
Why In News:
Mandsaur, a district in Madhya Pradesh, has been highlighted as a replicable model for achieving high HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccination coverage among adolescent girls.
Source: The Hindu, Page 10, 3 July 2026, 'A shot at life, Mandsaur's model for HPV vaccination'
The Burden of Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Indian women, after breast cancer.
HPV infection is responsible for nearly 99% of cervical cancer cases; high-risk subtypes HPV-16 and HPV-18 alone account for around 70% of cases globally.
Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by infection with oncogenic types of human papillomavirus (HPV).
HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection which can affect the skin, genital area, anal area and throat.
India's HPV Vaccination Programme
CERVAVAC, India's indigenous quadrivalent HPV vaccine developed by the Serum Institute of India, was launched in 2022.
National HPV Vaccination Programme India was launched nationwide in 2026 as a mission-mode campaign to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer.
The programme targets approximately 1.15 crore girls aged 14 years every year across all States and Union Territories.
What Makes the Mandsaur Model Work
Convergence of the school education and health systems, using teachers and health workers jointly for mobilisation and consent.
Active role of ASHA and ANM workers in community awareness, addressing vaccine hesitancy through local trust networks.
Global Benchmark
The World Health Organization's Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer sets '90-70-90' targets for 2030:
90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by age 15
70% of women screened with a high-performance test by age 35 and again by 45
90% of women with cervical disease receiving treatment.
Cervical cancer is considered a public health problem eliminated when incidence falls below 4 per 100,000 women.
Key Facts for Prelims
Mission Indradhanush was launched in 2014 to boost immunisation coverage of children and pregnant women; Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI 4.0) is its latest phase.
Australia has been cited globally as a country on track to be among the first to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem.