Misconceptions slow HPV vaccination drive

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme for adolescent girls in Visakhapatnam district has recorded only 62.83% coverage since its launch in March, with health officials attributing the slow uptake to misconceptions and vaccine hesitancy among parents.

The free immunisation programme, launched jointly by the Centre and the Andhra Pradesh government in March this year, aims to protect girls against cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers.

According to the Health Department, 14,792 girls aged 14 years have been identified as eligible beneficiaries in the district. To facilitate the campaign, 32 Urban Health Centres (UHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) have been designated as Cold Chain Points (CCPs), with each centre assigned a daily target of vaccinating 50 girls.

However, as of July 2, only 62.83% of the eligible beneficiaries had received the vaccine, while the remaining 37.17% are yet to be covered.

The department had initially set a target of achieving 100% coverage by the end of May. However, with vaccination remaining below 50% by the deadline, the campaign was extended by two months. Coverage has since risen to 62.83%, but officials acknowledge that meeting the revised target by the end of July will be challenging. They added that several other districts in the State are facing similar difficulties.

To improve vaccine uptake, Health Department personnel are visiting the homes of eligible beneficiaries to counsel parents, address their concerns about the HPV vaccine, and dispel misconceptions that have contributed to vaccine hesitancy.

District Immunisation Officer (DIO) B. Lucy Cordelio said the department was committed to ensuring that every eligible girl receives the vaccine. She appealed to parents, teachers, and educational institutions to cooperate with health workers and encourage eligible adolescents to take advantage of the free vaccination programme.