Collector R. Sadheesh distributing certificates to girl students upon the administration of the HPV vaccine in Dharmapuri on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT.
As many as 7,391 girl students will receive the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination in the district, with the launch of the HPV vaccination programme at Palayamputhur government girls higher secondary school in Nallampalli block on Tuesday (January 27, 2026). The programme was launched as part of the pilot study to combat the incidence of HPV-induced cervical cancer in four districts.
Nationally, over 1.2 lakh women are diagnosed with cervical cancer. It is the second highest cancer in the State next to breast cancer. While breast cancer affects 28.7% of women, cervical cancer affects 14%.
The vaccination programme is the outcome of the budgetary announcement in 2025-26, when the State government announced phased vaccination programme against HPV to cover 14-year-old girls and allocated funds worth ₹36 crore.
The programme entails 11 different vaccination administration to expectant mothers and children, preventing 12 different types of preventable diseases.
The Tamil Nadu Cancer Registry Project, in a 2019 study, recorded the Crude Incidence Rate at 16 women per one lakh women. As part of the pilot study, Dharmapuri (30.40%); Perambalur (24%); Thiruvanamalai (23.30%); and Ariyalur (23.30%) reported high incidence of cervical cancer.
Over 30,209 girls are proposed to be vaccinated in these select districts. According to the administration, the HPV vaccine includes 0.5 ml of Gardasil that will be administered intramuscular in left upper arm.
About 60,375 doses are procured from Tamil Nadu Medical Service Corporation. Dharmapuri has received 16,464 does, Ariyalur-9296 doses; Perambalur- 5,824 doses; and Thiruvanamalai- 28,784 doses.
According to Collector R. Sadheesh, as per the EMIS portal, 7,391 girls are in the age group of 14 years and are studying in government and government-aided schools in Dharmapuri, including 2084 girls in higher secondary; 525 in high school and 102 girls in middle school. The vaccines will be administered through the 16 RBSK mobile health units under the Health Department.
The Collector also distributed certificates to girls upon the administration of the vaccine.
Published – January 27, 2026 08:42 pm IST
