New Delhi, March 13: The Government of India has initiated a nationwide vaccination program against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) aimed at girls aged 14. This move is part of efforts to strengthen the HPV vaccination initiative and ensure ethical standards and safety in clinical research. The recommendations from the 72nd report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare have been acknowledged in their 81st report. Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, provided this information in a written response in the Lok Sabha.
Over the past decade, the government has enhanced the regulatory framework for health research. The ‘New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules’ (NDCTRs) were implemented in 2019, streamlining the approval process for clinical trials and new medications. Registration of ethical committees with the Department of Health Research (DHR) has become mandatory. The DHR and CDSCO have launched the ‘Ethical’ and ‘Accessible’ portals for the online registration of all ethical committees. Registration of clinical trials is now required on the CTRI portal before the enrollment of the first participant.
In 2017, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) updated the national ethical guidelines for biomedical and health research, emphasizing the protection of vulnerable groups, scientific validity, risk mitigation, safety monitoring, and follow-up. Amendments have also been made to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the screening committee for international collaborations.
In conjunction with these reforms, the nationwide HPV vaccination campaign for girls aged 14 commenced on February 28, 2026. This initiative is based on recommendations from WHO, SAGE, ICMR, and NTAGI. Comprehensive training has been provided to medical and paramedical staff across all 36 states and union territories.
The Gardasil-4 vaccine is available as a single dose at government health centers, primary health centers (PHCs), community health centers (CHCs), sub-district/district hospitals, and government medical colleges, all at no cost. Vaccinations are conducted in the presence of medical officials, and all centers are equipped to manage Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) 24/7. While vaccination is voluntary, written consent from parents is mandatory. Beneficiaries can register on the U-WIN platform.
This campaign represents a significant step in preventing HPV-related diseases, including cervical cancer.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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