Telangana Launches Initial HPV Vaccination Drive, State wide drive from March 8

Hyderabad:The Gardasil HPV vaccine has been rolled out in Telangana, with the statewide drive set to begin on March 8, coinciding with International Women’s Day. The vaccination programme targets adolescent girls who have completed 14 years of age.

Officials said there are nearly 3.5 lakh girls in the eligible age group across the state, and Telangana has received 1.45 lakh doses in the first phase. The remaining beneficiaries will be covered in subsequent phases.

As per National Health Mission (NHM) guidelines, parents are being given consent forms to sign before vaccination. The doses will be transported to designated storage centres and made available at General Hospitals, Area Government Hospitals and Community Health Centres from 8 March.

Minister for Medical, Health and Family Welfare, and Science and Technology, Damodar Rajanarsimha, inaugurated the HPV vaccination programme at the District Government Hospital, King Koti, Hyderabad, on Saturday.

He was participating virtually in the event organised by the Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare and the Mission Director, NHM, Telangana as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was inaugurating in India. The Minister interacted with students and observed nurses administering the vaccine.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, P Karna, father of Sai Lakshmi, a student of Telangana Minority Residential Educational Institutions Society, Musheerabad, said ASHA workers approached the school and informed parents about the vaccine. “I received a call, gave my consent, and my daughter was vaccinated,” he said.

D Gayatri Devi, a Class IX student of BR Rao Girls High School, said she was initially afraid but later agreed to take the vaccine after counselling.

Medical officers said vaccinated students were kept under observation for 30 minutes in AEFI (Adverse Events Following Immunisation) rooms. Some may experience mild symptoms such as redness, slight swelling, pain at the injection site, or mild fever. The vaccine is administered after breakfast, and students can resume normal meals later in the day.

S. Sangeetha Satyanarayana, Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare and Mission Director, NHM, said the Gardasil HPV vaccine has been officially rolled out and will be available at government health facilities from March 8. She reiterated that parental consent is mandatory and that additional doses will be procured to cover the remaining eligible population in the next phase.