Gujarat HPV vaccine drive: 5.14 lakh girls covered, state hits 91.5% coverage
Synopsis
Gujarat's HPV vaccination drive has covered over 5.14 lakh adolescent girls — 91.5% of the eligible cohort — with several districts exceeding 100% coverage. The campaign, targeting 14-year-olds and administered free of cost, is one of the largest state-level cervical cancer prevention efforts in India.
Key Takeaways
5,14,566 adolescent girls in Gujarat have received the first dose of the HPV vaccine as of 6 May 2025 , out of 5,62,324 eligible.
Overall state coverage stands at 91.5 per cent ; the campaign continues until the end of May 2025 .
Multiple districts — including Rajkot Corporation , Bhavnagar Corporation , and Narmada — have exceeded 100 per cent coverage.
Ahmedabad Corporation reported the lowest coverage at 47 per cent , with 22,813 of 48,443 eligible girls vaccinated.
The vaccine is being administered free of cost with no serious adverse effects reported, according to state health officials.
Health Minister Praful Pansheriya has urged parents to ignore social media misinformation and ensure eligible girls are vaccinated at the nearest government facility.
More than 5.14 lakh adolescent girls in Gujarat have received the first dose of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine under a state-wide campaign aimed at preventing cervical cancer, with the state recording 91.5 per cent overall coverage as of 6 May 2025. Cumulative vaccinations stand at 5,14,566 out of 5,62,324 eligible girls, according to the state health department.
Campaign at a Glance
On Wednesday, 7 May alone, 7,913 adolescent girls were vaccinated across the state. The drive targets 14-year-old girls and is being conducted free of cost at government medical college-affiliated hospitals, district and sub-district hospitals, Community Health Centres (CHCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs), and Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) throughout Gujarat.
State Health Minister Praful Pansheriya confirmed that the drive has proceeded without any reported cases of serious adverse effects. He stated:
Point of View
But the Ahmedabad Corporation number — just 47 per cent of nearly 48,500 eligible girls — is a serious outlier that warrants scrutiny. Urban hesitancy, often driven by social media misinformation, is a known barrier to adolescent immunisation in India's metros, and the state's aggregate headline risks masking a significant urban-rural access gap. Several districts crossing 100 per cent suggest enrolment data may need reconciliation, but the broader programme architecture — free vaccine, wide facility coverage, no adverse events — is a replicable model for other states still debating HPV rollout.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Gujarat HPV vaccination campaign?
It is a state-wide drive to vaccinate 14-year-old girls against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which is the primary cause of cervical cancer. The vaccine is being administered free of cost at government health facilities across Gujarat, with the campaign running through May 2025.
How many girls have been vaccinated under Gujarat's HPV campaign?
As of 6 May 2025, a cumulative total of 5,14,566 girls have been vaccinated out of 5,62,324 eligible, representing 91.5 per cent coverage. On 7 May alone, 7,913 girls received the vaccine.
Which districts in Gujarat have the highest and lowest HPV vaccine coverage?
Several districts including Rajkot Corporation, Bhavnagar Corporation, Narmada, and Junagadh Corporation have exceeded 100 per cent coverage. Ahmedabad Corporation recorded the lowest coverage at 47 per cent, with 22,813 of 48,443 eligible girls vaccinated.
Is the HPV vaccine safe? Have any adverse effects been reported in Gujarat?
State Health Minister Praful Pansheriya confirmed that no serious adverse effects have been reported during the campaign. He urged parents to rely on scientific evidence and not be deterred by misinformation on social media.
When will the Gujarat HPV vaccination campaign end?
The state health department has stated the campaign will continue until the end of May 2025. Families with eligible 14-year-old girls who have not yet been vaccinated are urged to visit the nearest government health facility.
