Assam Hits 90 Percent Milestone in National HPV Vaccine Drive

Guwahati: Assam cleared the 90 percent mark in the National HPV Vaccination Campaign. It stands among the top states driving this nationwide effort to stop cervical cancer. The state successfully reached the vast majority of its identified target population. Bihar and Andhra Pradesh also moved past the 90 percent threshold.

Some states hit the ceiling. Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Mizoram achieved 100 percent coverage of their target groups. Prime Minister Narendra Modi started this push back in February. The mission focuses on 14-year-old girls.

Health facilities offer a voluntary, single-dose vaccine at no cost. Officials require parental consent before any shot is administered. The program aims to shield adolescents from the Human Papillomavirus. This virus carries a direct link to cervical cancer, making the widespread adoption of the vaccine a priority for the government. The high numbers underscore the massive scale of the drive.