District Medical Officer (DMO) L.T. Saritha Kumari has said that a total of 12,467 girls of the age of 14 in Kozhikode district have received the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Of them, 1,307 received the jab through school-based vaccination drives.

The DMO said that since the special campaign runs till August 31, all eligible girls should get vaccinated at the earliest.

Cervical cancer affects the lower part of the womb (the cervix). Ahead of adding the vaccine to the national immunisation schedule, the State government is providing the HPV vaccine free of charge to 14-year-old girls in the first phase. HPV causes 99.7% of cervical cancer cases. In India, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting women.

The vaccine, which costs ₹4,000 in the private market, is being administered free of cost. It stimulates the body to produce antibodies that protect against HPV infection. Timely vaccination and cervical screening can significantly reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer, said a press release.

Published - August 14, 2026 07:14 pm IST