AMC's mega HPV vaccination drive on May 7: Free shots for 48,561 girls
Synopsis
Ahmedabad is offering free HPV vaccines — priced at ₹3,000 in private clinics — to thousands of adolescent girls through a city-wide drive on 7 May. With 22,137 of a targeted 48,561 girls vaccinated so far, and Gujarat already covering over 5 lakh girls statewide, this is one of India's most active civic-led cervical cancer prevention pushes.
Key Takeaways
AMC will hold a mega HPV vaccination drive on 7 May 2025 at all Urban Health Centres and municipal hospitals in Ahmedabad .
The drive targets girls aged 14 to 15 years ; the vaccine is provided free of cost , versus approximately ₹3,000 at private facilities.
Overall programme target: 48,561 adolescent girls in Ahmedabad; 22,137 have already been vaccinated.
Earlier mega drives vaccinated 1,933 girls on 24 April and 2,872 girls on 30 April .
Gujarat's state-level programme has vaccinated 5,06,100 of a target 5,62,324 adolescent girls.
The campaign runs until 30 May 2025 , backed by radio, social media, schools, and community outreach.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) will conduct a city-wide mega HPV vaccination drive on 7 May 2025, offering free Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines to adolescent girls aged 14 to 15 years across all Urban Health Centres and municipal hospitals. The drive is part of AMC's ongoing cervical cancer prevention programme, which has been running since February 2025 and targets 48,561 adolescent girls in Ahmedabad.
Drive Details and Eligibility
Eligible girls aged between 14 and 15 years can access the free HPV vaccine at any designated civic health facility across the city during the drive. The campaign will continue until 30 May 2025, giving families a window of several weeks to ensure their daughters are vaccinated. No cost will be borne by beneficiaries — a significant provision given that the same vaccine is available at private healthcare facilities for approximately ₹3,000 per dose, excluding consultation charges.
Progress So Far
As of the latest figures shared by AMC officials, 22,137 girls have already been vaccinated under the programme. Earlier phases of the initiative recorded 1,933 girls vaccinated during a mega drive on 24 April, followed by 2,872 girls vaccinated on 30 April. The 7 May drive marks the third such mega vaccination event under the campaign.
Gujarat's Wider HPV Programme
The Ahmedabad drive is part of a broader state-level initiative in Gujarat, which has set a target of covering 5,62,324 adolescent girls under the HPV immunisation programme. According to official data, 5,06,100 girls have already been vaccinated across the state, reflecting significant progress toward the overall target. This places Gujarat among the more proactive states in India in rolling out HPV immunisation at scale.
Awareness and Community Outreach
The AMC has paired the vaccination drive with a sustained awareness campaign involving hoardings, banners, standees, radio jingles, and social media outreach. The civic body has also shared informational content and interviews with vaccinated girls to address awareness gaps around cervical cancer prevention. Local representatives, social leaders, and both government and private schools have been engaged to improve outreach among eligible adolescents.
Why HPV Vaccination Matters
Officials involved in the programme noted that the initiative is grounded in established medical research and international vaccination practices, where HPV immunisation is widely recognised as an effective preventive measure against cervical cancer. Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in India, making early immunisation of adolescent girls a critical public health priority. The free provision of the vaccine under the civic programme is designed to ensure equitable access, particularly for families who cannot afford private healthcare costs.
Point of View
000 privately, making free civic provision a meaningful equity intervention. Gujarat's state-level coverage of over 5 lakh girls signals genuine administrative intent, but the gap between 22,137 vaccinated and 48,561 targeted in Ahmedabad alone shows the last mile remains the hardest. Awareness campaigns featuring vaccinated girls are a smart behavioural nudge, but sustained school-level mandates — not just outreach — may be what finally closes the coverage gap.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can girls get the free HPV vaccine in Ahmedabad on 7 May 2025?
The free HPV vaccine will be available at all Urban Health Centres and municipal corporation hospitals across Ahmedabad on 7 May 2025. Eligible girls aged 14 to 15 years can walk in without any cost during the drive.
What is the HPV vaccine and why is it given to adolescent girls?
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is a preventive shot that protects against strains of HPV most commonly linked to cervical cancer. It is most effective when administered before exposure, making adolescent girls aged 14–15 the primary target group under the AMC programme.
How much does the HPV vaccine cost in private hospitals in Ahmedabad?
The HPV vaccine is available at private healthcare facilities in Ahmedabad for approximately ₹3,000 per dose, excluding consultation charges. The AMC is providing it entirely free of cost under its civic immunisation programme.
How many girls has the AMC vaccinated so far, and what is the target?
As of the latest official figures, 22,137 girls have been vaccinated under the AMC's HPV programme, against an overall target of 48,561 adolescent girls in Ahmedabad. The campaign runs until 30 May 2025.
What is Gujarat's overall HPV vaccination target and current progress?
Gujarat's state-level HPV programme targets 5,62,324 adolescent girls, of whom 5,06,100 have already been vaccinated according to official data shared under the ongoing campaign.
