Free HPV vaccination mega campaign launched in Gujarat

Gandhinagar: Gujarat took a decisive step toward safeguarding women's health as Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually launched the statewide HPV vaccination mega-campaign from Sola Civil Hospital on Saturday. While the nationwide initiative was inaugurated from Ajmer, the Gujarat leg of the mission was marked by the presence of chief minister Bhupendra Patel and minister of state for health Praful Pansheriya, signalling the state's aggressive stance against cervical cancer.Addressing the gathering, minister Pansheriya highlighted Gujarat's storied success in public health, noting that the state has remained polio-free since 2007. He emphasized that the transition from importing vaccines to producing them indigenously embodies the spirit of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat'. The minister reiterated the govt's commitment to the underprivileged, noting that Ayushman card coverage has been doubled from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh to ensure no life is lost due to financial constraints. In a historic move for the state's healthcare budget, the Gujarat govt has allocated Rs 150 crore to provide the HPV vaccine completely free. While a single dose typically costs approximately Rs 3,000 in the private market, this state-funded inclusion into the Universal Immunization Programme — which already sees an annual spend of Rs 240 crore — ensures equitable access. The primary goal is to protect 5.50 lakh adolescent girls across Gujarat who are between 14 and 15 years of age from cervical cancer.To ensure seamless delivery, the state has activated 2,297 trained vaccination teams and an equal number of cold chain points, maintaining strict temperatures between +2°C and +8°C. Real-time monitoring via the TeCHO+ and SAFE-VAC portals will oversee the rollout. The minister also issued a stern appeal to citizens to ignore superstitions and misinformation, affirming that the vaccine is scientifically proven. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India. By targeting HPV-16 and HPV-18 strains, Gujarat aims to lead the charge in securing a cancer-free future for its daughters.