The Ministry of Health and Population is set to launch a nationwide vaccination campaign against cervical cancer for schoolgirls from coming Sunday. The campaign will administer vaccines against the human papillomavirus (HPV), a major cause of cervical cancer.
According to Dr Abhiyan Gautam, Chief of the Child Health and Immunization Section at the Ministry, the vaccination will target girls studying in Grade 6 as well as out-of-school girls aged 10 years. The nationwide campaign will continue until February 27.
Dr Gautam added that girls who missed the HPV vaccination during last year’s campaign will also be covered this time. This includes students from Grades 7 to 10 and adolescent girls aged 11 to 14 years who are not attending school.
The vaccination will be carried out at respective schools and designated health institutions. Health workers involved in the campaign have already received necessary training to ensure effective and safe immunization.
The Ministry informed that the vaccines have been dispatched from provincial offices to the concerned district offices. Nearly 350,000 girls are expected to be vaccinated under this campaign.
The vaccination programme is being implemented with medical assistance from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi), the Ministry stated.
