Ahmedabad HPV vaccination drive: 31,579 girls covered, 65% target met
Synopsis
Ahmedabad's municipal corporation has vaccinated over 31,500 adolescent girls against HPV — covering 65% of its target — in a free drive that saves families up to ₹3,000 per dose. With two weeks left and nearly 17,000 girls still unreached, the final push will test how effectively civic health infrastructure can close the gap.
Key Takeaways
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has administered 31,579 free HPV vaccine doses to girls aged 14–15 years as of 12 May 2025 .
This represents 65 per cent of the 48,443 eligible girls identified across the city.
The campaign runs until 31 May 2025 at all Urban Health Centres and AMC-run hospitals , at no cost to beneficiaries.
The HPV vaccine costs approximately ₹3,000 in private hospitals, making the free civic drive a significant financial relief.
Around 16,864 girls remain to be vaccinated within the campaign window.
More than 31,579 adolescent girls in Ahmedabad have received free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations under a citywide immunisation campaign aimed at preventing cervical cancer, with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) reaching 65 per cent of its stated target as of 12 May. The drive, running through 31 May, targets girls aged 14 to 15 years across the city.
Scale of the Campaign
The AMC has identified 48,443 eligible girls for HPV vaccination across Ahmedabad. According to figures released by the civic body, 31,579 doses had been administered by 12 May, marking a significant coverage milestone within weeks of the drive's launch. The campaign is being implemented by the AMC's health department as a special mega vaccination drive to ensure wider reach before the month's end.
Free Access at Civic Facilities
Eligible girls can receive the vaccine free of cost at any Urban Health Centre or AMC-run hospital during the campaign period. This is a notable financial relief: the HPV vaccine typically costs around ₹3,000 in private hospitals, excluding consultation charges. By offering it at no cost through civic facilities, the AMC is removing a significant barrier to access for families across income groups.
Why HPV Vaccination Matters
Cervical cancer is among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in India. The HPV vaccine is widely regarded by health authorities as one of the safest and most effective preventive tools against the disease when administered during early adolescence. The AMC described the campaign as a measure to provide protection against 'serious and life-threatening diseases such as cervical cancer.' Notably, India has been scaling up HPV vaccination efforts at both national and municipal levels in recent years, with several states integrating it into routine immunisation schedules.
What Officials Said
The AMC stated: 'Till May 12, 31,579 vaccines have been administered under the campaign. This means 65 per cent of the eligible girls have already received the HPV jab.' Health officials added that the drive was aimed at increasing health awareness among adolescent girls and ensuring timely immunisation coverage before the campaign concludes on 31 May.
What Happens Next
With approximately 16,864 eligible girls yet to be vaccinated and roughly two weeks remaining in the campaign, the AMC's health teams are expected to intensify outreach efforts to close the coverage gap. The civic body has urged parents and guardians of girls aged 14 to 15 years to utilise the remaining campaign window at nearby civic health facilities.
Point of View
But the harder task is the final stretch — the remaining 35 per cent often includes girls from harder-to-reach households or those whose parents are less health-literate. The AMC's model of deploying Urban Health Centres as delivery points is sound, but two weeks is a narrow window. India's broader cervical cancer burden — one of the highest globally — makes municipal-level campaigns like this one consequential beyond city limits, yet they rarely receive the policy attention that national programmes do. The real measure of this drive's success will be whether it translates into a permanent addition to Ahmedabad's routine immunisation calendar, not just a one-time mega event.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AMC's free HPV vaccination drive in Ahmedabad?
It is a citywide campaign run by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation to provide free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines to adolescent girls aged 14 to 15 years, aimed at preventing cervical cancer. The drive targets 48,443 eligible girls and runs through 31 May 2025 at Urban Health Centres and AMC-run hospitals.
How many girls have been vaccinated so far?
As of 12 May 2025, the AMC had administered 31,579 HPV vaccine doses, covering 65 per cent of the 48,443 eligible girls identified across Ahmedabad.
Where can eligible girls get the free HPV vaccine in Ahmedabad?
Girls aged 14 to 15 years can receive the vaccine free of cost at any Urban Health Centre or AMC-run hospital in Ahmedabad during the campaign period, which ends on 31 May 2025.
How much does the HPV vaccine cost in private hospitals?
The HPV vaccine typically costs around ₹3,000 in private hospitals, not including consultation charges. The AMC's free campaign eliminates this cost entirely for eligible beneficiaries.
Why is the HPV vaccine important for adolescent girls?
The HPV vaccine is considered one of the safest and most effective measures against cervical cancer, which is among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in women in India. Administering it during early adolescence — before potential exposure — offers the strongest protective effect, according to health authorities.
