Karnataka seventh in HPV vaccination coverage in country, reports just one adverse event following immunisation
Health officials said that beneficiaries (girls aged between 14 and 15) are being monitored for adverse reactions following vaccination, while district teams have been asked to address concerns and misconceptions that could affect uptake
Karnataka has achieved the seventh-highest Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage in the country, with 81.9% of its allocated doses administered as of August 20, according to recent data. The State has reported only one adverse event following immunization (AEFI), making it one of the lowest reported by states with substantial coverage.
In contrast, states such as Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Assam, Rajasthan, and West Bengal reported higher numbers of AEFIs ranging from 11 to 20. Karnataka's single reported AEFI is insignificant given that over four lakh doses have been administered in the state. The government has maintained a close watch on beneficiaries, who are girls aged between 14 and 15, and district teams are addressing concerns and misconceptions that might impact vaccination uptake.
The national HPV vaccination program, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ajmer on February 28, was initiated by Karnataka on the same day in K.C. General Hospital, Bengaluru. As of August 20, the state had administered 4,15,939 doses out of 5,08,030 vials allocated, resulting in a cumulative coverage of 81.9%. Health officials are confident of achieving the remaining 18% coverage by the end of August.
The vaccine's effectiveness in preventing cervical cancer, a leading cancer among women in India, has made it a crucial preventive intervention. The State Deputy Director of Immunisation, Ravindranath Meti, highlighted Karnataka's position in the rankings and the confidence in completing the remaining coverage. While districts like Vijayanagar, Kalaburagi, and Yadgir recorded the highest coverage, districts such as Dakshina Kannada lagged behind, with only 7,780 of the 16,350 allocated doses administered, resulting in a coverage of 47.6%. The State is exploring extending the vaccination campaign to 15-year-old girls post-campaign.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
