Maharashtra Extends HPV Vaccination Drive to December Amid Low Coverage
The HPV vaccination campaign in Maharashtra has been extended to December after only 8% of the target population was vaccinated.
Only 82,059 out of 984,414 targeted girls have received the HPV vaccine.
Maharashtra's vaccination rate is significantly lower compared to other states like Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
Health officials attribute low participation to lack of awareness and parental hesitancy.
Maharashtra has announced an extension of its human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination initiative until December, following a disappointing vaccination rate of just 8% among the targeted population. Launched on March 8, the campaign aims to vaccinate 984,414 girls aged 14 to 15 years, but as of October 5, only 82,059 had received the vaccine, according to the latest report from the state health department.
The initial plan was to complete the vaccination within three months, with the intention of integrating HPV vaccination into the routine immunization program. However, the slow uptake of the vaccine stands in stark contrast to the success seen in other Indian states. For instance, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Mizoram have all achieved 100% coverage of their identified target populations, while Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Assam have surpassed 90%.
Among the districts in Maharashtra, Mumbai has recorded the lowest coverage at a mere 2%, with only 2,235 of the 106,045 targeted girls vaccinated. Pune district follows with a coverage of 4%, vaccinating 3,478 out of 85,849 eligible girls. In contrast, Nagpur district leads with the highest coverage at 15%, followed by Nashik at 13% and Kolhapur at 10%. Other districts like Akola, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Thane have reported coverage rates of 8% and 7%, respectively.
Health officials have pointed to several factors contributing to the low vaccination rates, including limited awareness among the public, parental hesitancy, and the spread of misinformation on social media platforms. Dr. Sandeep Sangale, additional director of state family welfare and health services, noted that while the immunization campaign is gradually gaining momentum, overcoming parental hesitancy will take time.
In response to the low uptake, Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar has urged local MLAs and MPs to assist in ensuring that eligible girls in their constituencies receive the vaccine. Additionally, health officials have conducted workshops in Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Nagpur to enhance awareness and encourage participation. Dr. Sanjay Patil, national secretary of the Hospital Board of India, emphasized the need for Maharashtra to learn from the strategies employed by other states that have successfully achieved full vaccination coverage.
