Health dept tightens HPV rollout on U-WIN; finger marking, consent must

Jaipur: The health dept has directed officials to strengthen the newly launched human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rollout through the U-WIN platform, with a three-month campaign planned to maximize coverage. As part of the campaign protocol, vaccinators will apply a mark on the index finger of the beneficiary's left hand after vaccination.Beneficiaries can complete a one-time self-registration on the U-WIN Vaccination Platform. Vaccination will be provided only to an identifiable individual after due verification.
A senior official said beneficiaries may self-register, pre-register with the help of a health worker to book appointments, or use on-site walk-in registration through U-WIN. However, the department has reiterated that even though HPV vaccination is voluntary, parental or guardian consent is mandatory before vaccinating girls. Consent will be captured digitally where possible, and hard-copy consent will be permitted in areas with limited internet or mobile connectivity.After each dose, beneficiaries will receive a digital acknowledgement through the platform, and a digital e-Vaccination certificate will be generated. The official added that printed vaccination certificates may also be issued to beneficiaries or caregivers after vaccination.U-WIN will be used for registration, recording, reporting, and monitoring of vaccinations, while vaccine stock and logistics will be managed through the e-VIN system.To support implementation, the department has called for coordination with multiple ministries and departments, including education, women and child development (WCD), tribal affairs, panchayati raj, youth affairs, and information and broadcasting. Collaboration has also been sought with professional and civil society organizations such as the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), the Indian Medical Association, the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Lions and Rotary clubs, and the Cancer Society.During the three month campaign period, the HPV vaccine will be available every day to ensure maximum number of eligible girls are covered. The vaccine will continue to be administered at the same health facilities on routine immunization days after the campaign is over.