Good News!

On 24 February 2026, the Indian government announced a nationwide vaccination campaign using a single-dose HPV (Human Papillomavirus) regimen for girls. While traditional guidelines often suggested two or three doses for those over 14, the shift to a single dose is based on scientific and logistical factors. Why single dose (including those 14 and older) in India:

1. Scientific Evidence Extensive global and Indian research—supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE)—and NTAGI in India has shown that a single dose provides “robust and durable protection. Immune Response: Studies indicate that a single shot triggers a sufficient immune response that is comparable to the two-doses in preventing cervical cancer caused by HPV types 16 and 18. Long-term Efficacy: Data from countries like the UK and Canada suggests that the protection from one dose remains stable over time, making a second dose redundant for most healthy individuals in this age bracket.
   
   2. Improving Coverage: Administering multiple doses is a major hurdle in large-scale public health drives. Logistical Ease: It is much easier to ensure a girl receives one shot than it is to track for a second 6 months later. Eliminating Dropout: By using a single-dose, the program avoids the common “dropout” problems. 
   
   3. Affordability and Supply India accounts for roughly one-third of the world’s cervical cancer cases. To protect the largest number of girls quickly:
   
   a. A single-dose regimen makes the national program more affordable for the government, allowing it to provide the vaccine (Gardasil) free of charge to more people. 
   b. Stretching Supply: Using one dose per person doubles the number of girls who can be vaccinated helping India reach its goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2030. WHO Global Recommendations the WHO updated its position in 2022 to allow for a single-dose schedule for girls and women aged 9 to 20. India’s current strategy aligns with this global shift.

Dr. Sanjiv Kumar

MBBS, MD, DNB (MCH), MBA, FIPHA, FAMS, FIMAAMS, FAPSM

Chairman and Managing Trustee, Three Domain Health Leadership Foundation

Member of Managing Committee – Indian Cancer Society, Delhi Branch