The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) recently launched a citywide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive aimed at preventing cervical cancer. The civic body aims to target nearly 1,30,000 adolescent girls aged 14 to 15 years, it means those who have completed 14 years but not yet completed 15 years of age.
It is a major step towards preventing cervical cancer under a special national immunisation drive.
Five Class 9 girls became the first in Maharashtra to receive the HPV vaccine, marking the launch of state's cervical cancer prevention campaign on February 28.
At the inauguration held at Topiwala National Medical College and Bai Y L Nair Charitable Hospital, the girls from Mazgaon -- Jeevika Thakkar, twins Riddhi and Siddhi Harihar, Mahi Chavan -- and Shamika Sadvilkar from Agripada were accompanied by their parents, who shared how they learned about the initiative just days earlier through relatives, neighbours, and hospital outreach.
The first phase of the campaign will cover 24,936 students from civic-run schools.
Meanwhile, private and government-aided schools will be included in the subsequent phase.
Additionally, the Maharashtra government is set to vaccinate 9.84 lakh girls aged 14 across the state in a three-month drive.
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Indian women, with an incidence rate of 17.7 per 100,000 women in 2022. The World Health Organization has recommended including the HPV vaccine in the national immunisation programme.
Vaccine Rollout
The Maharashtra health department has procured 9,47,380 doses of HPV vaccine ‘Gardasil-4’ from the Central Government. Of which, the civic body has received 20,160 doses.
So far, the state government has supplied 20,160 doses of the HPV vaccine to the civic body for the initial rollout.
Civic body's public health department authorities said 262 medical officers, 1,008 nurses, and 4,428 Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) and health volunteers have been trained to ensure smooth execution of the drive.
Dosage and Vaccinations
The beneficiary girls will be given one dose (0.5 ml) of the vaccine on the left forearm, and after the vaccination, the nail of their left little finger will be marked with a marker pen.
The vaccination is voluntary, and parental consent is mandatory.
Vaccinations will be administered across BMC’s network of 284 institutions, including 236 health centres, 27 maternity homes, 16 general hospitals and five medical colleges. The programme is voluntary but requires parental consent.
Side Effects and Safety Protocols
Minor side effects such as mild fever, headache, or swelling at the injection site may occur and typically subside within two to three days. Medical teams will be present at all centres to manage any adverse events. The vaccine will not be given in cases of severe illness or serious allergies.
How to register?
Registration and certification will be handled digitally through the U-WIN portal. Registration has been open now.
Share
Tweet
