Kolkata: The state health department is finalizing the groundwork for the rollout of the HPV vaccination programme across West Bengal. While most states across the country have already launched this vaccination campaign, the West Bengal assembly polls had delayed its implementation in the state. Now that the decks are cleared, the health department is working on completing district and block-level manpower training to launch the campaign.
Experts have highlighted that this vaccine can play a significant role in shielding women against cervical cancer, as HPV (human papilloma virus) infection accounts for 99.7% of all cervical cancer cases in women. "We received our vaccine lot for the campaign well ahead of the concluded assembly polls. Now preparations are back on track, and we can expect the campaign to start very soon," said state health and family welfare officer Ashim Das Malakar.
Health department sources indicated that the campaign will be launched within the next two weeks. The target group includes all girls who have celebrated their 14th birthday but have not yet turned 15. State officials estimate approximately 10 lakh beneficiaries across the state. Health experts explained that HPV is sexually transmitted, making vaccination before sexual activity an effective preventive measure.
The state had already received 7,72,650 doses of the vaccine from the central government in early March. While these vaccines were dispatched to various districts by the health department in anticipation of starting the campaign, the assembly polls delayed implementation. "The vaccination will be carried out only at government health facilities, from primary health centres to teaching medical colleges. Our aim is to complete the campaign within three months," said a senior health official.
The Bengal campaign is part of a pan-India rollout of an extensive HPV vaccination programme, which most states started after the national launch on February 28. Experts noted that cervical cancer caused by HPV is the second most common cancer in women after breast cancer. The nationwide rollout comes two years after the Union finance minister mentioned the government's intention to provide cervical cancer vaccination during the 2024 interim budget.
The current vaccination programme, in its first phase, targets girls aged 14 years. Sources confirmed that the Gardasil-4 (Quadrivalent) vaccine will be used, which protects against HPV types 16, 18, 6, and 11. A single dose of the vaccine will be administered free of cost to girls in the target group. Experts emphasized that the optimal time for vaccination is before girls become sexually active. A complete vaccination course can cost between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000 in the private sector, which experts said has been a deterrent for parents.
Health department sources added that while vaccination will begin at government health facilities through dedicated HPV vaccination counters, the programme may later be integrated into the routine immunization schedule, eventually including girls aged 9 years and above.
