Gandhinagar: Gujarat has achieved nearly 90% of its target under the ongoing HPV vaccination campaign aimed at protecting adolescent girls from cervical cancer, with more than five lakh girls receiving the first dose of the vaccine so far, Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said.

The state government has launched the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive to protect girls against cervical cancer, one of the most common cancers affecting women. According to the Health Minister, no serious side effects have been reported during the vaccination drive so far, indicating the safety of the vaccine.

The HPV vaccine is currently being provided free of cost to all 14-year-old girls at medical college-affiliated hospitals, district hospitals, sub-district hospitals, Community Health Centres (CHCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs), and Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) across the state.

Pansheriya appealed to parents to ensure that eligible girls who have not yet received the vaccine are taken to the nearest government health centre before the campaign concludes at the end of May.

He also urged citizens not to believe misleading rumours circulating on social media regarding the vaccine and encouraged wider participation in the campaign to ensure a safer future for girls in the state. DeshGujarat