Gurgaon: Around 10,000 adolescent girls are expected to be vaccinated across the city as Haryana prepares to roll out a three-month human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive at the block level.“The campaign aims to reduce the risk of cervical cancer, the second most common cancer among women in India,” civil surgeon Dr Lokveer said on Thursday, ahead of the drive that begins from Civil Hospital in Sector 10 on Feb 28. Health officials said the rollout is part of a universal vaccination drive, with the state aiming to complete initial coverage within 100 days. Haryana has received 1.14 lakh HPV vaccine doses. Around 3 lakh beneficiaries are likely to be vaccinated this year.“Human papillomavirus is a leading cause of the disease — cervical cancer — particularly types 16 and 18. The vaccine being administered provides protection against HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18,,” Dr Lokveer said.The vaccination will be voluntary and free of cost, with the target group being girls aged 14 years, who have not yet turned 15. All vaccinations will be recorded digitally on the U-WIN portal, with OTP-based consent obtained prior to vaccination, though written parental consent will also be accepted. Digital vaccination certificates will be issued to beneficiaries and finger-marking will be done to prevent duplication.District surveillance officer Jaiprakash Rajliwal said, “On the launch day, at least 50 eligible girls are to be vaccinated at the district hospital, though all eligible beneficiaries present will be covered. We received 3,000 vaccines so far. We will roll out from Monday to a few health centres. After three months, it will be given in routine immunisation.”While the programme will be launched from the district hospital, it will be expanded in phases to polyclinics and health centres in Sohna, Pataudi, Farrukhnagar, Borha Kalan and Ghangrola.
