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National HPV Vaccination Drive Targets 1.15 Crore 14-Year-Olds Annually with Single-Dose Gardasil-4, Aligns with WHO 2022 Strategy

Target:UPSC GS-IMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
26 Feb 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:One woman dies every 8 minutesIndia accounts for 1/5th global burden90% caused by HPVTarget: 1.15 crore annuallySingle dose for 14-year-oldsWHO 2022 recommendation
Bodies:World Health Organization (WHO)Government of IndiaMerck & Co
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.India accounts for one-fifth of the global cervical cancer burden, with 90% of cases linked to Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

2.The government's new drive will administer a single dose of Gardasil-4 to 14-year-olds, diverging from private clinics' multi-dose regimen, based on WHO 2022 findings.

3.Success hinges on awareness campaigns and learning from state-level pilot projects in Sikkim, Punjab, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu, while avoiding pitfalls seen in Delhi's hospital-based approach.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

India launches a national HPV vaccination drive to combat cervical cancer, which kills one woman every eight minutes. The program will offer a single dose of Gardasil-4 to 14-year-old girls, targeting 1.15 crore beneficiaries annually via the U-Win portal. This strategy aligns with WHO's 2022 single-dose recommendation and its global elimination strategy.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Cervical Cancer MortalityOne woman dies every 8 minutes in India
Global BurdenIndia accounts for about 1/5th (20%)
HPV Causation~90% of cervical cancer cases
Annual Target Beneficiaries1.15 crore (11.5 million) girls turning 14
Vaccine & ManufacturerGardasil-4 by Merck & Co
WHO Recommendation Year2022 (single dose for 9-14 age group)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Cervical Cancer Mortality: One woman dies every 8 minutes in India
  • ›Global Burden: India accounts for about 1/5th (20%)
  • ›Target this Data: 'One woman dies every 8 minutes in India' and 'India accounts for 1/5th of global burden'.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: World Health Organization (WHO) for its 2022 single-dose recommendation and elimination strategy.
  • ›Target this Platform: U-Win portal for booking vaccination slots.

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

The single-dose HPV vaccination strategy for adolescents adopted by the Indian government aligns with the recommendations of which international organization?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the National HPV Vaccination Drive discussed in the news:

1. It aims to vaccinate 1.15 crore young women who turn 14 every year.

2. The vaccine will be administered in two doses, following the standard private clinic protocol.

3. Eligible beneficiaries need to book a slot using the U-win portal.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the article, what proportion of the global cervical cancer burden does India account for?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is identified as a critical factor, besides vaccine supply, for the success of India's cervical cancer elimination efforts?

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