KATHMANDU: The government is set to roll out a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign against cervical cancer from the last week of Magh, under the regular national immunization schedule.
The Ministry of Health and Population announced the plan during an interaction program held on Monday, stating that the campaign will be implemented with technical support from UNICEF Nepal through the Family Welfare Division.
Chief of the Child Health and Immunization Section, Dr. Abhiyan Gautam, said preparations for the campaign are almost complete. He acknowledged that elections and upcoming festivals could slightly affect implementation but assured that the campaign is planned to start in the last week of Magh and conclude by the first week of Falgun. The detailed schedule and dates will be made public soon.
According to Dr. Gautam, around 350,000 adolescent girls who have completed 10 years of age and are studying in Grade 6 will be targeted in this phase. Last year, the government administered HPV vaccines to around 1.7 million girls studying from Grade 6 to Grade 10.
Unlike last year, when the vaccine was given in two doses, this year the campaign will administer a single dose. Dr. Gautam said the decision was taken based on scientific evidence and recommendations from immunization advisory bodies, which have confirmed that a single dose is effective.
“We urge the target group and their guardians not to fall for misinformation or rumors and to take the vaccine with confidence,” he said, adding that awareness campaigns are being intensified based on lessons learned from previous vaccination drives.
According to data from the Ministry of Health and Population, an estimated four women die every day in Nepal due to cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Nepal and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women. HPV infection is identified as the primary cause of cervical cancer.
Currently, the government provides 11 types of vaccines protecting against 14 diseases under the national immunization program. Dr. Gautam noted that Nepal has made significant progress in vaccine coverage, even compared to developed countries, and emphasized that building positive public perception toward vaccines could further improve coverage rates.
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