Hoshiarpur Health Departments Special Gift for Girls HPV Vaccination Drive Extended by 90 Days Hoshiarpur / Daljeet Ajnoha/May 30

Hoshiarpur Health Department’s Special Gift for Girls — HPV Vaccination Drive Extended by 90 Days
Hoshiarpur / Daljeet Ajnoha/May 30
Under the leadership of Civil Surgeon Dr. Mandeep Kamal, the district of Hoshiarpur has extended its HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination campaign to strengthen cervical cancer prevention. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has approved a 90-day extension of the drive to provide vaccination opportunities to eligible girls who missed earlier rounds and to bolster efforts against cervical cancer.
District Immunization Officer Dr. Seema Garg said the HPV vaccination campaign began on 28 February 2026. The vaccine is being administered to girls who have completed their 14th birthday but are not yet 15, to protect them against serious conditions such as cervical cancer in the future. During the extended period only girls meeting this exact age eligibility will be vaccinated.
Dr. Garg announced that special HPV vaccination camps will be held at S.D. College, Hoshiarpur, on 2 and 4 June. Eligible students will receive the vaccine free of charge at these camps.
Parental consent is mandatory for vaccination. Parents can provide consent via an OTP received on their mobile phone or by signing a consent form. Consent forms are available from the District Immunization Officer (DIO) office. Girls coming for vaccination must bring their Aadhaar card to ensure smooth registration and vaccination procedures.
Dr. Garg explained that more than 200 types of human papillomavirus exist worldwide, some of which can cause cancer. In India, HPV types 16 and 18 are primarily responsible for most cervical cancer cases. The government-provided HPV vaccine protects against four high-risk HPV types and helps the body develop immunity, thereby reducing the risk of infection and related diseases.
She noted that cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women, but timely vaccination can prevent it to a large extent. The HPV vaccine is approved by the World Health Organization and the Government of India, and has been administered safely and effectively to millions of girls and adolescents worldwide.
Civil Surgeon Dr. Mandeep Kamal said that to date approximately 20 percent of eligible girls in Hoshiarpur district have received the HPV vaccine. She appealed for cooperation from the education department, school administrations, ASHA workers and parents to increase coverage. She e urged the education department to share lists of 14-year-old girls with the health department so that remaining eligible girls can be identified and vaccinated.
Dr. Kamal highlighted the crucial role of ASHA workers in this campaign. ASHA workers are conducting house-to-house visits to identify eligible girls, raise awareness among parents about the benefits of the HPV vaccine, assist with the consent process, prepare beneficiary lists and ensure attendance at vaccination camps.
Describing HPV vaccination as an important safeguard for the health of Hoshiarpur’s daughters, Dr. Kamal appealed to parents, teachers, school and college authorities, panchayat representatives, ASHA workers and social organizations to support the health department’s welfare drive and encourage eligible girls to get vaccinated.
She reiterated that cervical cancer is a preventable disease and that HPV vaccination is the most effective means of prevention. Every eligible girl should take advantage of this important opportunity to get the HPV vaccine and significantly reduce her future risk of cervical cancer.