Special Cervical Cancer Vaccination Drive on March 29, April 5 & 12: Dr. Sanjeev Verma

Una, March 2: Chief Medical Officer Una, Dr. Sanjeev Verma, has announced a special vaccination campaign against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) to prevent cervical cancer. The drive will be conducted across Una district on March 29, April 5, and April 12.

The campaign will cover adolescent girls in the 14–15 years age group. To ensure smooth implementation, the Health Department will complete house-to-house registration of students from government and private schools, as well as children of migrant labour families, by March 10. Online registration will be finalized by March 20.

Dr. Verma stated that HPV is one of the most common infections globally and is the second most common cancer among women in India. If not prevented in time, the virus can lead to cervical cancer, a serious and potentially life-threatening disease. He emphasized that timely vaccination, safe practices, regular screening, and awareness can effectively prevent HPV-related illnesses.

He further clarified that vaccination will not be administered on an empty stomach, and beneficiaries will be kept under observation for 30 minutes after receiving the dose to manage any possible adverse reactions. Girls can also register online through the U-WIN portal ([https://uwin.mohfw.gov.in](https://uwin.mohfw.gov.in)).

The CMO urged ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, self-help groups, Panchayati Raj institutions, and the Education Department to actively support the campaign. Parents’ meetings in schools will also be used to spread awareness about HPV infection and the importance of vaccination.

He appealed to parents to ensure timely vaccination of their daughters and contribute to the prevention of this serious disease.