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Tamil Nadu is set to roll out the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme by the end of next month.
While the programme will be implemented in all 38 districts, it will start off with four districts with high incidence of cervical cancer — Ariyalur, Perambalur, Tiruvannamalai, and Dharmapuri.
A total of 3,38,000 girls across the State will benefit from this vaccination programme. The first dose will be administered to 27,000 children in the four districts, Health Minister Ma. Subramanian told reporters on the sidelines of an event to mark World AIDS Day on Friday (December 12, 2025).
The State government allocated ₹36 crore in its previous budget for the HPV vaccination programme for girls aged 9 to 14 years to prevent cervical cancer. The vaccination programme will be launched by the end of next month.
“The tender has been finalised, and the work is nearing completion. Once the process is over, the vaccination will be procured,” he said, adding that training on administering the vaccine began for doctors and nurses this week.
Girls aged 14 years would be vaccinated and then, the programme would go on to cover those aged between 9 and 14 years. Each child would receive two doses. “The programme will start off by vaccinating girls studying in government and government-aided schools,” he said. Tamil Nadu will be the first State in the country to provide the HPV free of cost, he added. In the private sector, one dose of the vaccine costs nearly ₹2,000.
HIV in State
The HIV prevalence was 0.23% in India, while it was 0.16% in Tamil Nadu. The State was ensuring 100% screening of pregnant women for HIV and syphilis, thereby preventing transmission to the baby. There were 2,600 Nambikkai Maiyams (Integrated Counselling and Testing Centres) and 81 Anti Retroviral Therapy centres in the State.
A few years ago, shops doing “blood art” were shut down, and monitoring of such practices continues. Similarly, safe handling of needles and its immediate disposal are also being monitored, Mr. Subramanian said.
The Minister said that various awareness initiatives are being taken continuously to make Tamil Nadu free of HIV/AIDS by 2030.
Published – December 13, 2025 12:19 pm IST
