The lessons from India’s HPV vaccine programme

The delay in introduction serves as a reminder that scientific advancement can be impeded by mistrust, political contestation, and inadequate communication

- Chandrakant Lahariya

India's decision to proceed with HPV vaccination is both a corrective and a forward-looking step.

(PTI)

India is poised to roll out the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for adolescent girls in the coming weeks. With this step, the country will incorporate all 13 antigens recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for national immunisation programmes. It isa milestone that signifies both culmination and transition —the completion of India’s childhood immunisation basket, anda decisive shift towards recognising adolescence asa critical window for preventive health.

The HPV vaccine will also be the first in India’s Universal Immunisation Programme to be offered exclusively to adolescents. Until now, national immunisation efforts have focused primarily on infants, young children, and pregnant women. This policy evolution signalsa broader and more mature vision —one that acknowledges that prevention cannot, and should not, conclude in early childhood.

Yet, this imminent rollout is not merely an administrative development; it follows nearly 18 years of deliberation, controversy, and delay. The protracted interval between initial consideration and actual introduction offers instructive lessons for all public health initiatives.