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Maharashtra HPV Vaccination Drive Targets 9.84 Lakh Girls Aged 14-15, Uses Gardasil 4 Under National Initiative

Social IssuesHealth & EducationPolityHIGH
Target:MPSCUPSC GS-ISSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
08 Mar 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:9,84,414 girlsAge 14-15 years9,47,380 dosesGardasil 4 vaccine3-month campaignLaunched March 8, 2026
Bodies:State Public Health DepartmentMinistry of Health and Family Welfare
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What This Article Covers

1.Maharashtra launched its HPV vaccination drive on March 8, 2026, aiming to vaccinate 9,84,414 girls aged 14-15 years within three months.

2.The state procured 9,47,380 doses of Gardasil 4 vaccine, which protects against four HPV strains, including types 16 and 18 that cause 70% of cervical cancer cases globally.

3.The initiative is part of the Central government's nationwide campaign launched on February 28, 2026, and focuses on combating misinformation while strengthening cancer screening alongside vaccination.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

Maharashtra launched a statewide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive on International Women's Day, targeting 9.84 lakh girls aged 14-15 to prevent cervical cancer. The three-month campaign, using the quadrivalent Gardasil 4 vaccine, will later be integrated into the routine immunisation programme, following the Centre's nationwide rollout.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Target Beneficiaries9,84,414 girls
Age Group14-15 years
Vaccine Doses Procured9,47,380 doses
Vaccine NameGardasil 4 (Quadrivalent)
Campaign Duration3 months
National Launch DateFebruary 28, 2026
State Launch DateMarch 8, 2026

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Target Beneficiaries: 9,84,414 girls
  • ›Age Group: 14-15 years
  • ›Target this Data: 9,84,414 girls (age 14-15) and 9,47,380 doses of Gardasil 4.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: State Public Health Department and the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
  • ›Target this Timeline: 3-month campaign launched on March 8, 2026, following national launch on February 28, 2026.

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

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which state-level minister launched the HPV vaccination drive in Maharashtra as per the news article?

Q2Statement-basedHard

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

1. The drive aims to vaccinate girls in the age group of 14 to 15 years.

2. The vaccine used, Gardasil 4, is a bivalent vaccine protecting against two strains of HPV.

3. The campaign is a three-month intensive drive before the vaccine is integrated into the routine immunisation programme.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the article, how many doses of the HPV vaccine did Maharashtra procure for the vaccination drive?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the stated primary public health objective of the HPV vaccination drive launched in Maharashtra?

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