HPV vaccination drive launched for schoolgirls in city

City Police Commissioner Shankabratha Bagchi on Saturday inaugurated a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme for girls aged nine to 14 years studying at Government Queen Mary School, in a step aimed at strengthening preventive healthcare among adolescents.

The two-day programme, organised at Lions Cancer Hospital in Seethammadhara, is part of an ongoing initiative that will be extended over the coming weekends to ensure wider coverage. Medical teams and volunteers have been mobilised to facilitate the smooth administration of doses and to counsel parents and students on the importance of vaccination.

Addressing participants, Mr. Bagchi highlighted that cervical cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in India, but is largely preventable through early immunisation. He stressed the need for greater awareness and community participation, noting that both the Centre and the state government are actively supporting such vaccination drives under public health programmes.

President of Chaitanya Sravanti voluntary organisation, Dr. Shireen Rahman, said the organisation has been conducting HPV vaccination campaigns consistently for the past two years, reaching out to school-going girls across the city. She added that the current phase focuses on administering the second dose to beneficiaries.

According to her, nearly 800 girls are expected to receive their second dose during the weekend sessions. On the first day alone, more than 400 girls were vaccinated, with a positive response from parents and school authorities.

Health officials and organisers expressed hope that sustained efforts and regular follow-up drives would significantly reduce the risk of cervical cancer in the long term, while also encouraging the early adoption of preventive healthcare practices among young girls.