India Launches Nationwide HPV Vaccination Program
Analysis based on 103 articles · First reported Feb 24, 2026 · Last updated Mar 06, 2026
The launch of India's nationwide HPV vaccination program is a significant positive for Merck & Co., as its Merck & Co.===Gardasil vaccine will be widely distributed. It presents a challenge for Serum Institute of India's indigenous Cervavac vaccine, as the government is prioritizing Merck & Co.===Gardasil for this large-scale initiative.
India is set to launch a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program on February 28, 2026, targeting 14-year-old girls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the program from Ajmer, Rajasthan. The initiative aims to vaccinate approximately 1.15 crore girls annually, offering the quadrivalent Merck & Co.===Gardasil vaccine free of cost at government health facilities. This voluntary program, requiring parental consent, will initially run in mission mode for three months before integrating into routine immunization services. The move is a crucial step in combating cervical cancer, which is the second most common cancer among women in India, causing over 1.2 lakh new cases and nearly 80,000 deaths annually. The program aligns with World Health Organization recommendations for single-dose HPV vaccination and positions India among over 160 countries with national HPV immunization schedules. The India===Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in partnership with Gavi, has secured Merck & Co.===Gardasil vaccine supplies, ensuring quality and accessibility. While Serum Institute of India has developed an indigenous vaccine, Cervavac, the national program will utilize Merck & Co.===Gardasil, manufactured by Merck & Co. The Indian Medical Association and the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India are supporting the initiative through doctor training.
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