Gandhinagar: Gujarat vaccinated 71,894 adolescent girls against HPV in a single day on September 17, marking a major milestone in the state’s ongoing vaccination drive. The campaign has now covered more than 6.25 lakh girls as of September 16, with the state setting a target to vaccinate another 1.46 lakh eligible girls by October 1.
The vaccination drive was relaunched across Gujarat on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday. Health Minister Praful Pansheriya urged parents to ensure that eligible 14-year-old girls receive the vaccine without delay.
The state government is providing the HPV vaccine free of cost through government health facilities, including medical college hospitals, district and sub-district hospitals, community health centres and primary health centres.
Gujarat Records Large-Scale HPV Vaccination
According to Health Minister Praful Pansheriya, Gujarat has vaccinated more than 6.25 lakh girls under the HPV programme till September 16, 2026.
He said the state has secured the first position nationally in the initial implementation of the HPV vaccination programme, completing vaccination of eligible adolescent girls within three months of the campaign.
The minister also said that no adverse reaction cases had been reported in Gujarat despite vaccination being carried out on a large scale. He described the vaccination programme as an important public-health initiative aimed at protecting girls against HPV-related diseases.
Following Gujarat’s performance, the Union Government allocated more than 2.72 lakh additional HPV vaccine doses to the state on September 7.
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71,894 Girls Vaccinated on September 17
The state relaunched its HPV vaccination campaign on September 17, resulting in the vaccination of 71,894 girls across Gujarat in one day.
The single-day figure adds momentum to the state’s effort to reach eligible adolescent girls and expand coverage through its government health network.
The campaign is particularly focused on girls who have completed the age of 14 years and remain eligible for vaccination.
The state has identified 1.46 lakh adolescent girls who completed 14 years of age on September 17, 2026, and has set October 1 as the deadline to vaccinate them under the ongoing drive.
Free HPV Vaccine Available Across Government Health Centres
Parents do not need to pay for the HPV vaccination under the state programme.
The vaccine is available free of cost for eligible 14-year-old adolescent girls at government health facilities across Gujarat, including:
- Medical College Hospitals (MCH)
- District and Sub-District Hospitals (DH/SDH)
- Community Health Centres (CHCs)
- Primary Health Centres (PHCs)
The availability through multiple levels of the public health system is intended to make vaccination accessible to eligible girls in both urban and rural areas.
Health Minister Appeals to Parents
Health Minister Praful Pansheriya appealed to parents to actively participate in the vaccination campaign.
He said government departments and the health system are carrying out their responsibilities, but parents have an important role in ensuring that eligible girls receive the vaccine.
The minister urged parents whose 14-year-old daughters have not yet received the HPV vaccine to contact their nearest health centre and take advantage of the ongoing mega vaccination drive.
HPV Vaccination and Cervical Cancer Prevention
HPV, or human papillomavirus, is associated with several cancers, including cervical cancer. Vaccination at the recommended age can help protect against HPV infections that can later contribute to these diseases.
The Gujarat government has therefore positioned the vaccination programme as part of its wider effort to strengthen preventive healthcare among adolescent girls.
The campaign also places emphasis on reaching eligible beneficiaries through the existing public health infrastructure rather than limiting vaccination to major cities.
State Sets October 1 Target
With more than 6.25 lakh girls already covered and another 1.46 lakh eligible adolescent girls identified for vaccination, the state has set a clear short-term target.
The government is seeking to complete vaccination of this group by October 1, 2026.
Pansheriya said parents should not delay vaccination if their daughters meet the eligibility criteria. The appeal comes as the state continues its intensified campaign following the September 17 relaunch.
The latest figures highlight the scale of Gujarat’s HPV vaccination effort and the role of government health facilities in delivering preventive healthcare to adolescent girls. The state’s focus now remains on reaching the remaining eligible beneficiaries within the October 1 deadline.
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