The State has reported just one minor (AEFI), among the lowest reported by States with substantial coverage, according to the HPV vaccination campaign data. Karnataka has recorded the seventh-highest Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage in the country, with 81.9% of its allocated doses administered as on August 20.
Following this, Karnataka initiated its State-level rollout on the same day at K.C. General Hospital in Bengaluru. The vaccine is being administered through Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (Primary Health Centres), Community Health Centres, taluk and district hospitals, and government medical colleges in the State. Dr. Meti attributed the slower progress in Dakshina Kannada to misconceptions about the vaccine. “We have intensified awareness activities with the involvement of the district administration and Health Minister U.T.
On February 28 this year, the Centre formally launched the nationwide HPV vaccination programme, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ajmer, Rajasthan. As on August 20, Karnataka administered 4,15,939 of the 5,08,030 single-dose vaccine vials stock allocated to the State, taking cumulative coverage to 81.9%.
“We are in seventh place in the country and are confident of covering the remaining 18% by the end of August.The HPV vaccine is a key preventive intervention against cervical cancer, one of the leading cancers affecting women in India,” Ravindranath Meti, State Deputy Director (Immunisation), told The Hindu . Khader,” he said.
