Free Nationwide HPV Vaccination in the Indian Context: A Transformative Public Health Intervention for Cervical Cancer Elimination

Abstract

Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality among women in India, despite being one of the most preventable cancers through vaccination and screening. Persistent infection with high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV), mainly HPV-16 and HPV-18, is responsible for nearly all cervical cancer cases globally. India contributes a significant burden of cervical cancer due to limited screening coverage, low awareness, and unequal access to preventive healthcare.
In response, the Government of India introduced a nationwide free HPV vaccination programme in 2026 targeting adolescent girls through public healthcare infrastructure. This policy represents a major shift from curative to preventive healthcare in India. This paper examines the role of free nationwide HPV vaccination as a transformative intervention for cervical cancer elimination.
Using secondary data from authentic sources such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Press Information Bureau (PIB), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and peer-reviewed journals, this study analyses disease burden, vaccine effectiveness, policy relevance, implementation challenges, and future directions. The paper argues that universal free HPV vaccination, if effectively implemented with screening integration, can significantly reduce cervical cancer incidence and mortality in India.

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