Ministry of Health and Family Welfare press release · 13 March 2026 · pibtracker filter

Measures taken to Strengthen HPV Vaccination Programme

PRID2239629 MinistryMinistry of Health and Family Welfare Released13 March 2026 Reading12 min

Major Health Research Reforms and Stronger Ethics Oversight Implemented Following Parliamentary Committee Recommendations Government Implements Clinical Research Reforms and Expands HPV Vaccination with Enhanced Safety and Ethical Oversight Nationwide HPV Vaccination Campaign Launched Following Expert Recommendations and Nationwide Training of Health Personnel Nationwide HPV Vaccination Campaign for 14-Year-Old Girls Launched with Free Gardasil-4 at Government Health Facilities with AEFI Safety Monitoring HPV Vaccination Voluntary with Mandatory Parental Consent; Registration Enabled on U-WIN Platform Posted On: 13 MAR 2026 4:31PM by PIB Delhi The actions undertaken by the Ministry consequent to the recommendations of 72nd Report of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare on HPV vaccine trials were taken into cognizance by the Committee as reflected in its 81 st Report. Government has undertaken many health research regulatory reforms in the last decade, some major ones are mentioned below: 1. New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules (NDCTR), 2019 introduced a comprehensive regulatory framework and streamlined approval processes for clinical trials and new drugs. The Rules also made it mandatory to register the Ethics Committees reviewing biomedical research with Department of Health Research (DHR). 2. DHR and Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) have set up the NAITIK Portal and SUGAM Portal for the online registration of all ethics committees in India. Their composition and functions are reviewed to ensure compliance with the ethical guidelines and regulations. Also, DCGI has mandated to prospectively register all clinical trial studies online on Portal of Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI), before enrolment of the first participant. 3. The scientific and ethical review mechanisms before trial initiation have been strengthened. Ethics Committees are required to ensure enhanced oversight, including careful review of research proposals to ensure that risks are minimized. 4. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) updated National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research in 2017 setting forth the requirement to ensure prior scientific validity, robust ethics committee review, risk minimization strategies, safety monitoring and oversight and follow-up of participants to implement safeguards for the protection of research participants including vulnerable participants. 5. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of Health Ministry’s Screening Committee have been revised for adequately regulating international collaborations in health research. Since Health is a state subject, the State Governments independently also undertake MoUs with national and international organizations on health-related matters. The nationwide HPV vaccination campaign for girls aged 14 years in the country was launched on February 28, 2026. The preparatory work took into consideration the recommendation made by scientific bodies of the world including Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), World Health Organization (WHO), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI). The rollout was preceded by careful deliberations, NTAGI guidance and extensive training of medical and paramedical staff across all 36 States/UTs in the country was taken. The single-dose Gardasil-4 vaccine is administered free of cost at government health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs- Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centers (CHCs), Sub-District Hospitals (SDH)/District Hospitals (DHs) & Government Medical Colleges (GMCs). The vaccines are being administered in the presence of medical officers and the vaccination sites are linked to 24x7 Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) Management Centers for prompt management of adverse events, if any. Parental consent is mandatory, and beneficiaries can register on the U-WIN platform. The vaccination is voluntary, and medical officers are trained to manage adverse events, if any. The operational guidelines for the roll out of HPV vaccination campaign have been disseminated to all States/UTs. The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today. **** SR HFW/Measures taken to Strengthen HPV Vaccination Programme/13March 2026/5 (Release ID: 2239629) Visitor Counter : 949 Read this release in: Urdu , हिन्दी Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Measures taken to Strengthen HPV Vaccination Programme Major Health Research Reforms and Stronger Ethics Oversight Implemented Following Parliamentary Committee Recommendations Government Implements Clinical Research Reforms and Expands HPV Vaccination with Enhanced Safety and Ethical Oversight Nationwide HPV Vaccination Campaign Launched Following Expert Recommendations and Nationwide Training of Health Personnel Nationwide HPV Vaccination Campaign for 14-Year-Old Girls Launched with Free Gardasil-4 at Government Health Facilities with AEFI Safety Monitoring HPV Vaccination Voluntary with Mandatory Parental Consent; Registration Enabled on U-WIN Platform Posted On: 13 MAR 2026 4:31PM by PIB Delhi The actions undertaken by the Ministry consequent to the recommendations of 72nd Report of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare on HPV vaccine trials were taken into cognizance by the Committee as reflected in its 81 st Report. Government has undertaken many health research regulatory reforms in the last decade, some major ones are mentioned below: 1. New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules (NDCTR), 2019 introduced a comprehensive regulatory framework and streamlined approval processes for clinical trials and new drugs. The Rules also made it mandatory to register the Ethics Committees reviewing biomedical research with Department of Health Research (DHR). 2. DHR and Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) have set up the NAITIK Portal and SUGAM Portal for the online registration of all ethics committees in India. Their composition and functions are reviewed to ensure compliance with the ethical guidelines and regulations. Also, DCGI has mandated to prospectively register all clinical trial studies online on Portal of Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI), before enrolment of the first participant. 3. The scientific and ethical review mechanisms before trial initiation have been strengthened. Ethics Committees are required to ensure enhanced oversight, including careful review of research proposals to ensure that risks are minimized. 4. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) updated National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research in 2017 setting forth the requirement to ensure prior scientific validity, robust ethics committee review, risk minimization strategies, safety monitoring and oversight and follow-up of participants to implement safeguards for the protection of research participants including vulnerable participants. 5. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of Health Ministry’s Screening Committee have been revised for adequately regulating international collaborations in health research. Since Health is a state subject, the State Governments independently also undertake MoUs with national and international organizations on health-related matters. The nationwide HPV vaccination campaign for girls aged 14 years in the country was launched on February 28, 2026. The preparatory work took into consideration the recommendation made by scientific bodies of the world including Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), World Health Organization (WHO), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI). The rollout was preceded by careful deliberations, NTAGI guidance and extensive training of medical and paramedical staff across all 36 States/UTs in the country was taken. The single-dose Gardasil-4 vaccine is administered free of cost at government health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs- Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centers (CHCs), Sub-District Hospitals (SDH)/District Hospitals (DHs) & Government Medical Colleges (GMCs). The vaccines are being administered in the presence of medical officers and the vaccination sites are linked to 24x7 Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) Management Centers for prompt management of adverse events, if any. Parental consent is mandatory, and beneficiaries can register on the U-WIN platform. The vaccination is voluntary, and medical officers are trained to manage adverse events, if any. The operational guidelines for the roll out of HPV vaccination campaign have been disseminated to all States/UTs. The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today. **** SR HFW/Measures taken to Strengthen HPV Vaccination Programme/13March 2026/5 (Release ID: 2239629) Major Health Research Reforms and Stronger Ethics Oversight Implemented Following Parliamentary Committee Recommendations Government Implements Clinical Research Reforms and Expands HPV Vaccination with Enhanced Safety and Ethical Oversight Nationwide HPV Vaccination Campaign Launched Following Expert Recommendations and Nationwide Training of Health Personnel Nationwide HPV Vaccination Campaign for 14-Year-Old Girls Launched with Free Gardasil-4 at Government Health Facilities with AEFI Safety Monitoring HPV Vaccination Voluntary with Mandatory Parental Consent; Registration Enabled on U-WIN Platform " /> The actions undertaken by the Ministry consequent to the recommendations of 72nd Report of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare on HPV vaccine trials were taken into cognizance by the Committee as reflected in its 81st Report. Government has undertaken many health research regulatory reforms in the last decade, some major ones are mentioned below: 1. New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules (NDCTR), 2019 introduced a comprehensive regulatory framework and streamlined approval processes for clinical trials and new drugs. The Rules also made it mandatory to register the Ethics Committees reviewing biomedical research with Department of Health Research (DHR).  2. DHR and Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) have set up the NAITIK Portal and SUGAM Portal for the online registration of all ethics committees in India. Their composition and functions are reviewed to ensure compliance with the ethical guidelines and regulations. Also, DCGI has mandated to prospectively register all clinical trial studies online on Portal of Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI), before enrolment of the first participant. 3. The scientific and ethical review mechanisms before trial initiation have been strengthened. Ethics Committees are required to ensure enhanced oversight, including careful review of research proposals to ensure that risks are minimized. 4. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) updated National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research in 2017 setting forth the requirement to ensure prior scientific validity, robust ethics committee review, risk minimization strategies, safety monitoring and oversight and follow-up of participants to implement safeguards for the protection of research participants including vulnerable participants. 5. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of Health Ministry’s Screening Committee have been revised for adequately regulating international collaborations in health research. Since Health is a state subject, the State Governments independently also undertake MoUs with national and international organizations on health-related matters. The nationwide HPV vaccination campaign for girls aged 14 years in the country was launched on February 28, 2026. The preparatory work took into consideration the recommendation made by scientific bodies of the world including Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), World Health Organization (WHO), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI). The rollout was preceded by careful deliberations, NTAGI guidance and extensive training of medical and paramedical staff across all 36 States/UTs in the country was taken. The single-dose Gardasil-4 vaccine is administered free of cost at government health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs- Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centers (CHCs), Sub-District Hospitals (SDH)/District Hospitals (DHs) & Government Medical Colleges (GMCs). The vaccines are being administered in the presence of medical officers and the vaccination sites are linked to 24x7 Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) Management Centers for prompt management of adverse events, if any. Parental consent is mandatory, and beneficiaries can register on the U-WIN platform. The vaccination is voluntary, and medical officers are trained to manage adverse events, if any. The operational guidelines for the roll out of HPV vaccination campaign have been disseminated to all States/UTs. The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today. **** SR HFW/Measures taken to Strengthen HPV Vaccination Programme/13March 2026/5 " /> var mPlayer = document.getElementById("background_music"); var mPlayAction = document.getElementById("playbutton"); var isPlaying = false; function playAudio() { mPlayer.play(); isPlaying = true; document.getElementById('stopA').style.display = "block"; document.getElementById('playA').style.display = "none"; } function pauseAudio() { mPlayer.pause(); isPlaying = false; document.getElementById('playA').style.display = "block"; document.getElementById('stopA').style.display = "none"; } //function HandleAudio() { // if (isPlaying == true) { // //Playing already Pause it // pauseAudio(); // } else { // //Play the music // playAudio(); // } //} var synth = window.speechSynthesis; function CleanHtml(html) { html = html.replace(/ /gi, ''); return html; } function stripHtml(html) { let tmp = document.createElement("DIV"); 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font-weight: 600 !important; } } /* === Film Roll Badge Styling(IFFI2025 countdown) === */ .film-roll-badge { position: absolute; top:82%; right: 20px; width: 230px; height: 70px; background: repeating-linear-gradient( to right, #9a2375 0px, #9a2375 18px, #6e2b8b 18px, #6e2b8b 36px ); border-top: 8px solid #9a2375; border-bottom: 8px solid #9a2375; border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4); animation: moveFilm 8s linear infinite; z-index: 10; } /* film sprocket holes */ .film-roll-badge::before, .film-roll-badge::after { content: ""; position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 10px; background: repeating-linear-gradient( to right, #9a2375 0px, #9a2375 10px, #fff 10px, #fff 20px ); left: 0; z-index: 2; } .film-roll-badge::before { top: -4px; } .film-roll-badge::after { bottom: -4px; } .film-roll-inner { position: relative; height: 100%; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; animation: flicker 2s infinite ease-in-out; } .countdown-text { font-size: 1.3rem; 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Measures taken to Strengthen HPV Vaccination Programme

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