Free Vaccines to prevent cervical cancer: Shot comes home

Cervical cancer remains India’s second most common cancer among women and a leading cause of cancer deaths, responsible for roughly 70,000-77,000 deaths every year.

- TDG NETWORK

Representative image.

Almost all cases are caused by persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types—viruses that can now be prevented with a simple vaccine.

That vaccine is about to become much easier to get. From January 2026, Maharashtra will offer free HPV vaccination to girls aged 9-14 through public health facilities and schools, using doses supplied under the national program. The move follows the Union Budget’s commitment to make HPV vaccination available for this age group nationwide and the inclusion of India’s indigenous vaccine Cervavac in the National Immunisation Programme.