Kolkata: Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari will officially launch the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme for teenage girls at Bidhannagar Subdivisional Hospital on Saturday. The vaccination drive, which aims to protect against cervical cancer, will be conducted at over 200 centres across West Bengal.
Vaccination Drive Details
While most Indian states began the nationwide vaccination campaign in February, West Bengal's implementation was delayed due to the assembly elections. A senior health department official stated, "We are finally rolling out the vaccination campaign in the presence of the CM. Apart from Bidhannagar Subdivisional Hospital, vaccination will be held at 200-plus centres in Bengal on Saturday." These centres include various government health facilities such as medical colleges, hospitals, and sub-divisional and block health facilities.
Importance of HPV Vaccination
Experts highlight that HPV accounts for 99.7% of all cervical cancer cases in women, and the vaccine plays a crucial role in protecting against this disease. Cervical cancer, caused by HPV, is the second most common cancer in women after breast cancer. Since the virus is sexually transmitted, the goal is to vaccinate girls before they become sexually active.
Target Group and Vaccine
In the first phase, girls aged 14 but not yet 15 will be covered. The Gardasil-4 (Quadrivalent) vaccine, which protects against HPV types 16, 18, 6, and 11, will be used. An official noted, "In Bengal, the estimated number of girls in this age bracket is around 7.5 lakh. The Centre has sent enough vaccine stock to cover this target group."
Vaccine Stock and Training
Another official confirmed that the health department received 7,72,650 doses from the Centre in early March, and the stock had reached various districts days before the launch. The department is also conducting training to ensure smooth programme implementation.
Future Plans
Health officials indicated that the campaign will be expanded by involving schools, and a micro-plan is being developed to ensure all eligible girls are covered. "We aim to wrap up the vaccination campaign within three months after ensuring all girls in that age group are covered," said another senior health official.
