{
  "id": 8483095,
  "title": "Health Minister promises steps to boost HPV vaccination coverage",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/health-minister-promises-steps-to-boost-hpv-vaccination-coverage",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-19T14:59:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/health-minister-promises-steps-to-boost-hpv-vaccination-coverage/article71485263.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Health Minister K. Muraleedharan pledged to implement measures aimed at increasing HPV vaccination rates, in an effort to safeguard adolescent girls in the region from cervical cancer. During the opening of a national conference at the Government Medical College, held on September 19, Muraleedharan acknowledged that the vaccination rates had been subpar in certain regions. The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is currently provided at no cost to girls aged 14 at every government health care facility, as part of the national immunisation initiative. The Minister attributed the inadequate coverage to a lack of awareness and called upon medical professionals to play an active role in promoting the vaccine. The conference is scheduled to conclude on September 20.",
  "summary": "Health Minister K. Muraleedharan says lack of awareness is one of the reasons for the poor vaccination coverage and urges doctors to get involved in activities to improve it",
  "key_points": [
    "Health Minister K. Muraleedharan vows to boost HPV vaccination rates.",
    "HPV vaccine free for 14-year-old girls at government healthcare facilities.",
    "Inadequate coverage due to lack of awareness, calls for medical professionals' active role."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}