Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 02:49am on 25 Feb 2026,Wednesday Health & Wellness
India's Union Health Ministry is set to launch a nationwide, free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme targeting adolescent girls aged 14 years. The vaccination will be entirely voluntary and free of cost, ensuring equitable access across all socio-economic groups. India will deploy Gardasil, a quadrivalent HPV vaccine offering protection against HPV types 16 and 18, the primary causes of cervical cancer as well as types 6 and 11. Health Ministry officials confirmed that global and Indian scientific evidence supports a single-dose regimen as providing robust and durable protection when administered to girls within the recommended age group, marking a landmark step in India's public health and women's healthcare landscape. (PC: Getty Images)
