Telangana to rollout free HPV vaccination programme for girls aged 14 and 15 at end of February

Telangana is preparing to launch a statewide Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination programme aimed at protecting adolescent girls from cervical cancer. The State has completed logistical preparations, including training medical personnel and stocking vaccine doses, and is awaiting formal clearance from the Union Government, a senior health official said. The rollout is expected to begin towards the end of February.

As part of the initiative, the State Government has procured 4.6 lakh doses of the quadrivalent Gardasil 4 vaccine. The vaccine will be administered free of cost to girls aged 14 and 15 years at Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and other public health facilities across Telangana.

Protection against four most common cancer causing strains

The quadrivalent HPV vaccine offers protection against four of the most common cancer-causing strains of the virus. Health officials said the bulk procurement of the vaccine is part of the State’s strategy to address the growing burden of cervical cancer. In the private sector, the vaccine typically costs between ₹2,000 and ₹4,000 per dose, making the free public rollout a significant intervention.

To ensure smooth implementation at the grassroots level, the Health department has trained around 1,200 to 1,500 Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) from across the State. These personnel will be responsible for administering the vaccine and managing immunisation sessions at the PHCs.

Cervical cancer incidence

The planned rollout comes against the backdrop of a steady rise in cervical cancer cases and related deaths in Telangana. According to data shared by Anupriya Patel, Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in the Lok Sabha on February 13, 2026, the State recorded 3,169 cervical cancer cases in 2021, which increased to 3,185 in 2022, 3,201 in 2023, 3,217 in 2024 and 3,233 in 2025.

Cervical cancer mortality has also shown an upward trend. Telangana reported 1,711 deaths in 2021, followed by 1,720 in 2022, 1,729 in 2023, 1,737 in 2024 and 1,746 in 2025, as per the data.

“The HPV vaccination programme is expected to play a key role in reducing future incidence of cervical cancer by preventing infection at an early age, particularly among adolescent girls,” the senior official added.