By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 27: The state government will launch the National Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Campaign on Saturday at Ganesh Das Hospital, Shillong. The drive coincides with the national launch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
It is pertinent to note that the campaign comes amid Meghalaya recording a sharp rise in cervical cancer cases, with numbers increasing from 27 in 2020-21 to 332 in 2025-26. Nationally, cervical cancer is the second-most common cancer among women, claiming over 42,000 lives in 2024 alone.
According to a statement from the Health department here, the state-level programme will be led by Ramakrishna Chitturi, Additional Secretary for Health and Mission Director of the National Health Mission.
Target and coverage
The campaign targets girls aged 14 years, with more than 39,000 eligible beneficiaries identified across the state. Vaccination will be conducted at 187 planning units, including district hospitals, Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs).
A workforce of over 9,100 trained health personnel, including doctors, nurses and ASHA workers, has been deployed for the project.
Vaccine details and safety
According to the Health department, beneficiaries will receive a single 0.5 ml dose of the Gardasil-4 vaccine. While the vaccination is voluntary, parental or guardian consent is mandatory. Registration will be managed through the U-WIN digital platform via self-registration or on-site assistance.
To ensure safety, 144 health facilities will operate 24/7 to monitor and manage any adverse events following immunisation (AEFI). The Health department noted that minor side effects, such as mild pain at the injection site or low-grade fever, are common and typically resolve within days.
The intensive campaign will run for three months, after which the HPV vaccine will be integrated into routine immunisation sessions.
“The Government of Meghalaya urges parents and guardians to ensure that all eligible girls receive the HPV vaccine. This campaign marks a historic step toward eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem and securing a healthier future for the women of Meghalaya,” the statement said.
