‘Free’ vaccines, single-dose nudge pushes India-made HPV vaccine to back of the line

By Admin

06 Mar, 2026

India has taken major steps to prevent cervical cancer, one of the most serious health threats faced by women in the country. However, a combination of free vaccine availability, evolving global guidelines, and ongoing scientific studies has delayed the entry of India’s own HPV vaccine into the national immunisation programme.

Even though India developed an affordable indigenous vaccine, Cervavac, the country has currently moved forward with the widely used Gardasil-4 vaccine in its HPV vaccination drive.

This situation highlights the complex intersection of public health strategy, vaccine supply, cost considerations, and scientific validation.

India’s Nationwide HPV Vaccination Campaign

In February 2026, Narendra Modi launched a national campaign in Ajmer to vaccinate 1.15 crore 14-year-old girls against Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

The programme uses Gardasil‑4, a vaccine produced by Merck that has been available in India since 2009 and is part of vaccination programmes in several countries.

The initiative is partly supported by a $250 million grant from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which helps India introduce vaccines such as the HPV vaccine and the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine while strengthening routine immunisation systems.

Through this support, India could receive up to 2 crore HPV vaccine doses free of cost, making Gardasil-4 an immediate and practical option for a nationwide programme.

The Indigenous Vaccine: Cervavac

India’s own HPV vaccine, Cervavac, was developed through a collaboration involving:

• Department of Biotechnology
  
  

• Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council
  
  

• Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  
  

• Serum Institute of India
  
  

The vaccine completed Phase 2/3 trials and demonstrated “non-inferiority” compared with Gardasil. It was officially launched in September 2022.

According to Adar Poonawalla, Cervavac could cost ₹200–₹400 per dose under government procurement   far cheaper than international alternatives.

Yet despite this achievement, the vaccine has not yet been incorporated into the Universal Immunisation Programme.

Why Cervavac Was Pushed Back

1. WHO’s Shift to Single-Dose HPV Vaccination

In 2022, the World Health Organization revised its recommendations for HPV vaccination.

Previously, girls aged 9–15 years were advised to receive two doses of the vaccine. However, after reviewing global data, WHO concluded that a single dose could also provide strong protection.

The decision aimed to:

• Increase global vaccine coverage
  
  

• Address limited vaccine supply
  
  

• Help countries reach the 2030 target of 90% HPV vaccine coverage
  
  

This shift significantly influenced India’s strategy.

2. Ongoing ICMR Study on Single-Dose Cervavac

The Indian Council of Medical Research is currently conducting a study to determine whether one dose of Cervavac can generate enough protective antibodies and maintain a stable immune response compared to a single dose of Gardasil.

The findings will decide whether Cervavac can be officially recommended as a single-dose vaccine.

However, results are expected only in 2027, delaying its inclusion in the national immunisation programme.

Experts say a single-dose vaccine is especially beneficial because adolescent girls may not always return for a second dose.

3. Immediate Availability of “Free” Vaccines

Another major factor is the availability of free HPV vaccine doses through GAVI support.

Public health experts involved in policy discussions noted that using Gardasil-4 is a pragmatic short-term decision, as:

• Vaccine supply from Serum Institute is not yet guaranteed at scale
  
  

• GAVI funding is available only for a limited period
  
  

• The programme requires rapid nationwide rollout
  
  

However, GAVI has indicated that free vaccine support may stop after 2027, meaning India will eventually need to rely on domestic production.

Cost Comparison: Gardasil vs Cervavac

Although Gardasil is currently used in the programme, Cervavac could become a far more affordable long-term option for India.

The Urgency: Cervical Cancer in India

HPV vaccination is critical because of India’s high cervical cancer burden.

Key statistics:

• 80,000 new cervical cancer cases annually
  
  

• Over 42,000 deaths each year
  
  

• India accounts for nearly 20% of the global cervical cancer burden
  
  

According to data extrapolated from India’s health surveys, there may be 8–10 crore girls aged 9–15   the main target group for vaccination.

Protecting this population is essential to reducing cancer cases in the coming decades.

What Happens Next?

For now, India will continue vaccinating girls using Gardasil-4 while awaiting results from the ICMR single-dose Cervavac study.

If the research confirms that one dose of Cervavac is effective, the indigenous vaccine could eventually become the backbone of India’s HPV vaccination programme   potentially making large-scale cancer prevention far more affordable and sustainable.

Until then, the country faces a balancing act between immediate public health needs and long-term self-reliance in vaccine production.

✅ Conclusion

India’s HPV vaccination strategy reflects a pragmatic public health decision. Free vaccine supplies, global guideline changes, and ongoing scientific studies have temporarily placed the India-made Cervavac behind Gardasil-4 in the rollout order.

However, once research confirms its effectiveness in a single-dose schedule, Cervavac could play a pivotal role in protecting millions of Indian girls while significantly reducing vaccination costs.