India's HPV Vaccine Drive: What Is HPV, Who Needs the Vaccine, and Where to Get It

India has launched one of the world's largest cancer prevention campaigns. Here's everything you need to know about the HPV virus, the vaccine, and who it protects.

India has launched its first nationwide HPV immunisation campaign, rolling out the cervical cancer-blocking vaccine free of charge to approximately 1.15 crore adolescent girls aged 14 years. The campaign was kicked off on February 28, 2026, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ajmer, Rajasthan.The urgency behind this drive becomes clear when you look at the numbers — India reports over 1,20,000 new cervical cancer cases and nearly 80,000 deaths every year, accounting for nearly 25% of the world's annual cervical cancer fatalities. A new case is diagnosed every four minutes, and a woman dies approximately every seven minutes. 

What exactly is HPV? Human Papillomavirus is not a single virus but a group of over 200 viruses. Many HPV infections clear on their own, but the dangerous strains — particularly types 16 and 18 — do not, and can lead to serious cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, anus, and throat.  Critically, the virus often spreads silently with no visible symptoms, making vaccination the only reliable line of defence.

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Is the HPV vaccine only for girls? No — and this is one of the most important points doctors are stressing right now. "Boys should also receive the vaccine because HPV can cause cancers in men, including throat, anal, and penile cancers, and men can transmit the virus to their partners. A gender-neutral vaccination strategy would greatly help protect the community,"  say medical experts. While the government's free programme currently targets girls, boys aged 9–15 can receive the Gardasil-9 vaccine at private facilities.

How much does it cost in India? The government provides the vaccine free of cost at Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres, and District Hospitals for eligible girls. For those seeking it privately, India's indigenous vaccine Cervavac costs around ₹2,000 per dose, while Gardasil-9 is priced as high as ₹11,000 per dose  making the free government programme a vital lifeline for millions of families.

Where can you get it? The vaccine is available at all government health facilities across every state and union territory under the national programme. For private vaccination, most major hospitals, clinics, and even home vaccination services now offer it. Vaccination records are being tracked through the government's U-WIN digital vaccination platform, ensuring no eligible child is missed. Doctors recommend getting vaccinated between ages 9 and 14 for maximum effectiveness — ideally before any exposure to the virus — though vaccination up to 45 years of age can still provide meaningful protection.