HPV vaccination deadline extended until August

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is administered to 14-year-old girls in the state. Of the 3,45,000 girls identified, 2,71,071 have been vaccinated so far. REPRESENTATIVE PICTURE | Photo credit: REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE

The deadline to complete the cervical cancer vaccination program in the state has been extended by three months to August, Health, Family Welfare and Medical Education Minister Satya Kumar Yadav said.

In a statement on Monday, June 8, the minister said the extension follows new guidelines issued by the Union government. The program, which started in February, was originally supposed to be completed within a three-month period. It was extended until August.

The HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccine is administered to 14-year-old girls in the state. Out of 3,45,000 identified girls, 2,71,071 have been vaccinated so far. None reported any adverse reaction to the vaccine, the minister said.

The state has received 381,780 doses of the vaccine from the central government in two phases. With the start of the new academic year, officials were instructed to ensure vaccination of the remaining girls. The minister also directed officials to raise awareness about the importance of cervical cancer vaccination among girls.

In terms of region, Rayalaseem districts performed well, especially Kurnool, YSR Kadapa, Nandyal and also Kakinada and Palnadu districts. However, lower vaccination coverage was reported from Polavaram, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Parvathipuram Manyam, Annamayya, Anakapalli districts, a department press release said.

Published – 08 Jun 2026 21:34 IST