Bareilly: An important step was taken on Tuesday toward protecting adolescent girls in the state from cervical cancer, a serious and often preventable disease. Governor Anandiben Patel formally launched the inclusion of the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine into the Routine Immunisation (RI) programme via an online session.
As part of the event held at Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, an HPV vaccination camp was also organised, where 11 adolescent girls were vaccinated.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Vishram Singh said HPV vaccination began in April as a special three-month drive and has now been folded into the routine immunisation schedule. Under this, eligible adolescent girls will receive a free dose of the HPV vaccine at regular immunisation sessions held every Wednesday and Saturday.
He said that since March, the district has vaccinated 25,053 girls up to the age of 14, putting Bareilly at the top of the state chart. Against a total target of 55,336, the district has achieved 45.3 percent coverage — well above the state average of 27.7 percent.
Girls who missed earlier drives to benefit:
Dr. Singh said the biggest advantage of bringing the HPV vaccine into the routine programme is that eligible girls will no longer have to wait for a special campaign to get vaccinated. With year-round sessions now available, girls who missed out earlier can easily be covered, and more adolescents can be protected in a timely manner.
Special focus on low-coverage blocks:
District Immunisation Officer Dr. Prashant Ranjan said data shows lower vaccination coverage in Bhadpura (24.1%), Nawabganj (25.3%), Baheri (25.5%), Shergarh (26.0%) and Bareilly Urban (31.9%) — all falling below the district’s average of 45.3 percent.
Nodal Urban Officer Dr. Ajmer Singh said girls who have missed vaccination in urban areas will be identified and special sessions organised for them, school-based activities will be stepped up, and community-level awareness efforts will be intensified to ensure all eligible girls are vaccinated on time.
An effective, safe way to prevent cervical cancer:
HPV infection is a leading cause of cervical cancer, and vaccinating girls up to age 14 is a scientifically proven, safe and effective way to prevent it. Officials said the vaccine can be safely given even during menstruation — there’s no need to wait — and can also be administered, on a doctor’s advice, even in cases of mild cold or fever. Anyone with doubts is encouraged to consult health workers or doctors.
Appeal to parents:
The CMO appealed to parents to get their eligible daughters vaccinated on time, helping protect them from the serious risk of cervical cancer later in life.
Mission Director of the National Health Mission (NHM), Dr. Pinky Jovel, has directed that 100 percent HPV vaccination be ensured for all eligible girls who have turned 14 by August 31, 2026.
To achieve this, ASHA workers, CHOs and ANMs will conduct surveys to prepare a line list of eligible girls, who will then be pre-registered on the U-WIN portal between August 5 and 10. In areas without ASHA workers, this task will be carried out by CHOs and ANMs instead. Officials have also been directed to conduct daily reviews of vaccination progress in every block, along with continuous monitoring and regular progress reports.
Report by Akhilesh Chandra Saxena, Bareilly
