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Maharashtra Launches HPV Vaccine Drive Targeting 9.84 Lakh 14-Year-Old Girls Under Nationwide Immunisation Programme

Target:MPSCUPSC GS-ITeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
27 Feb 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:9.84 lakh girlsGardasil-4 vaccine9,47,380 doses3-month drive+2°C to +8°C storage
Bodies:Maharashtra Public Health DepartmentUnion Health MinistrySchool Education Department (Maharashtra)Women and Child Development Department (Maharashtra)Tribal Department (Maharashtra)
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What This Article Covers

1.Maharashtra initiates a targeted HPV vaccination drive for 9.84 lakh 14-year-old girls, procuring 9,47,380 doses of Gardasil-4 vaccine.

2.The campaign involves massive training of over 1.87 lakh frontline workers (ASHA, Anganwadi, health workers) and uses the U-WIN portal for digital registration and certification.

3.The initiative is a significant public health intervention for cancer prevention, requiring parental consent, with a focus on school and community outreach.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

Maharashtra launches a three-month intensive campaign to vaccinate 9.84 lakh 14-year-old girls against cervical cancer with a single dose of the quadrivalent HPV vaccine Gardasil-4. This marks the state's entry into the nationwide HPV immunisation programme, which will later be integrated into routine immunisation, managed digitally via the U-WIN portal.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Target Beneficiaries9.84 lakh adolescent girls aged 14 years
Vaccine Name & TypeGardasil-4 (Quadrivalent HPV vaccine)
Doses Procured9,47,380 doses
Campaign Duration3 months intensive drive
Digital PortalU-WIN portal
Vaccine Storage Temp+2°C to +8°C

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Target Beneficiaries: 9.84 lakh adolescent girls aged 14 years
  • ›Vaccine Name & Type: Gardasil-4 (Quadrivalent HPV vaccine)
  • ›Target this Data: 9.84 lakh girls aged 14 years; Single dose of 0.5 ml Gardasil-4.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: State Public Health Department (Maharashtra) in coordination with Union Health Ministry.
  • ›Target this Programme: Nationwide HPV Immunisation Programme (to be integrated into Routine Immunisation).
  • ›Target this Digital Tool: U-WIN portal for registration and certification.

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Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which frontline worker cadre, mentioned in the article, is primarily associated with the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme?

Q2Statement-basedMedium

Consider the following statements regarding the HPV vaccination drive in Maharashtra:

1. The campaign uses the quadrivalent HPV vaccine Gardasil-4, which protects against four strains including types 16 and 18.

2. The vaccination is mandatory for all 14-year-old girls in the state and does not require parental consent.

3. All registrations and vaccination certificates for the drive are managed digitally through the government's U-WIN portal.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricEasy

According to the article, what is the total number of adolescent girls targeted for vaccination in Maharashtra's HPV drive?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary public health objective of Maharashtra's intensive HPV vaccination campaign as described in the article?

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