Telangana Rolls Out Free Statewide HPV Vaccination Drive for Adolescent Girls to Combat Cervical Cancer
Telangana Launches Free HPV Vaccination Drive to Protect Adolescent Girls Against Cervical Cancer
HYDERABAD, INDIA—The Government of Telangana, in coordination with the Union Ministry of Health, has launched a free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive aimed at protecting adolescent girls against cervical cancer. The programme was initiated at Koti District Hospital and is being scaled across primary health centres (PHCs), area hospitals and government medical colleges in the state.
Under the campaign, eligible adolescent girls aged 14 to 15 years are being offered the quadrivalent Gardasil-4 vaccine free of charge through government health facilities. In the private sector, the vaccine may cost around ₹2,000 to ₹4,000 per dose, making the public programme an important step in reducing the financial barrier to vaccination.
Key Telangana Campaign Highlights
- Target Beneficiaries: Approximately 3.5 to 4 lakh eligible girls aged 14–15 years across 33 districts, including school-going and out-of-school girls.
- Vaccine Allocation: The state has procured 4.6 lakh doses of the quadrivalent Gardasil-4 vaccine, which targets four HPV types associated with HPV-related cancers and other diseases.
- Healthcare Workforce Preparation: More than 14,000 health personnel were trained ahead of the rollout, according to reports on the state’s preparations. The trained workforce includes medical officers, mid-level health providers, supervisors and auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs).
- Registration and Safety Protocols: Vaccination is being administered with parental consent. Beneficiaries can register through the U-WIN platform or visit government health facilities. Vaccination sites also provide a post-vaccination observation period, with arrangements for monitoring and management of adverse events following immunisation (AEFI).
Epidemiological Background in Telangana
Data shared in Parliament has highlighted the cervical cancer burden in Telangana. The figures cited for the state are as follows:
| Year | Cervical Cancer Cases | Cervical Cancer Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,169 | 1,711 |
| 2022 | 3,185 | 1,720 |
| 2023 | 3,201 | 1,729 |
| 2024 | 3,217 | 1,737 |
| 2025 | 3,233 | 1,746 |
HPV vaccination is intended as a preventive measure, particularly when administered before exposure to the virus. Health authorities expect wider vaccination coverage among eligible adolescent girls to contribute to a reduction in the future burden of cervical cancer.
The Telangana initiative forms part of broader public-health efforts to expand access to HPV vaccination and strengthen preventive healthcare among adolescent girls.
Media Contact:
Department of Health, Medical & Family Welfare
Government of Telangana, Hyderabad
