Nepal Launches Nationwide HPV Vaccination Campaign for Adolescent Girls

Kathmandu. The Ministry of Health and Population is set to administer the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which prevents cervical cancer, nationwide starting from Magh 25 (Sunday).

Dr. Abhiyan Gautam, Chief of the Child Health and Vaccination Branch at the Department of Health Services, stated that the vaccination will be provided to adolescent girls aged 10 who are studying in Grade 6 or are out of school, across the country until Falgun 15.

He further explained that the government will also vaccinate girls who missed last year's HPV vaccination drive, including female students currently in Grades 7 through 10 and out-of-school adolescent girls aged 11 to 14, under the same campaign. Dr. Gautam, the Chief, mentioned that health workers administering the vaccine have already been trained, and the vaccine will be given at their respective schools and health institutions.

"The vaccine has already been delivered from the provincial offices to the district offices," said Chief Dr. Gautam. Last year, the government vaccinated approximately 1.7 million adolescent girls aged 10 to 14, who were in Grades 6 through 10 or out of school, from Magh 22 to Falgun 6 across the country.

Branch Chief Dr. Gautam stated that approximately 350,000 children will be vaccinated against cervical cancer with the HPV vaccine under this campaign. He added that this year's HPV vaccine received support from the 'Vaccine and Global Alliance for Vaccines'.