T.N. government initiates steps to roll out HPV vaccination for girls aged 14
Moving ahead to implement its budget announcement, Tamil Nadu has initiated the process to procure Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines for girls aged 14. This is to prevent cervical cancer, which is the second most common cancer in women.
The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC) has floated tenders for the procurement, and the supply is most likely to reach hospitals in another three months.
One of the key budget announcements for 2025-2026, the State government plans to progressively provide HPV vaccination to all girls aged 14 years. It allocated ₹36 crore for the purpose.
In line with this announcement, the Health Department constituted a State Advisory Committee in April for the rollout of the HPV vaccination programme.
The committee, which has the Health Secretary as its chairperson, comprises officials and experts. The directors of School Education, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Medical and Rural Health Services, Medical Education and Research, Institute of Child Health, and Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology are among its members.
Experts, including those in the field of HPV vaccination projects, and representatives from technical/partner agencies are also a part of the committee.
'The State Advisory Committee has discussed all modalities, including protocols for vaccination. Based on its recommendations, we have gone ahead with the procurement of vaccines. The TNMSC has floated the tenders to procure them,' T.S. Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said.
He added that the programme would be initiated by vaccinating girl aged 14 (students of Class IX) in government and government-aided schools.
'Prior to vaccination, we will start creating awareness among children and their family members,' he said.
Another official said it would take another three months for the supply to reach hospitals.
Cancer Institute (WIA), in a year of launching its HPV vaccination initiative at its screening centre at Villupuram Government Hospital and Chennai, has so far administered around 3,500 doses of HPV vaccine, according to Jayashree Natarajan, Gynaecologic Oncologist and Associate Professor, Cancer Institute (WIA).
'The numbers are more in Chennai owing to high awareness levels,' she said.
Cervical cancer is the second most common among women after breast cancer. However, it is still the most prevalent cancer in some rural areas, she said, adding: 'Vaccination is not going to prevent cervical cancer alone. It will prevent pre-invasive lesions that progress to cancer.'
There are no concerns regarding the safety of the vaccines, she says.
'HPV vaccination programmes have been implemented in places such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. These countries have brought down the cervical cancer rates through screening and vaccination,' Dr. Jayashree said.
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