Page 10 - NIS English 16-31 March, 2026

NATION | National Vaccination Day

A Strong Foundation

for a Healthy India

In a historic decision, the Central Government has launched a nationwide Human Papillomavirus
(HPV) vaccination campaign from Ajmer, Rajasthan, to protect women from cervical cancer. To date,
the government has implemented vaccination campaigns against 12 types of the disease, resulting
in universal vaccination coverage reaching 99 percent. On National Vaccination Day (March 16),
let’s understand how vaccination has strengthened public health while ensuring the
safety of women and children...

he Government of India launched a three- Every year, 26 million newborns and
month nationwide HPV vaccination program 29 million pregnant women receive
Ton February 28, 2026. Now, with the support
of the Central, State, and Union Territory govern- vaccinations under the UIP. The goal
ments, the vaccine will be provided free of charge to is to ensure that every child is fully
adolescent girls aged 14 and older at all government vaccinated in the first year of life.
primary and community health centers, district and
sub-district hospitals, and government medical
colleges and hospitals across the country. Girls who and protecting the health of women and girls across
turn 15 within 90 days of the campaign launch date the country. With this historic campaign, India joins
will also be eligible for vaccination during this three- more than 160 countries that have implemented
month special HPV vaccination campaign. HPV vaccination programs.
Approximately 11.5 million adolescent girls The National Vaccination Campaign is not only pro-
are currently eligible for this vaccine. To ensure tecting children and mothers but also strengthening
maximum coverage, the vaccination campaign will the foundation for a healthy India. Mission Indrad-
be conducted daily for 90 days, and it will also be hanush, launched in 2014 for universal vaccination
available on regular vaccination days thereafter. coverage, played a major role in strengthening this
This nationwide HPV vaccination campaign is an foundation. Technologies like AI have significantly
important step towards empowering Indian women helped achieve the target of nearly 99% vaccination.

8 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || March 16-31, 2026