Sikkim, a small northeastern state with ~700,000 population, faces high cervical cancer burden (10% of female cancers) and limited oncology infrastructure. It became India’s first state to introduce statewide HPV vaccination (2018), funded entirely from the state budget. Coverage achieved was 96% (dose 1) and 94% (dose 2) during the initial campaign, later integrated into […]
Year: 2022
Peer Exchange Learning On Implementation And Research Gaps In Strengthening Health Information Systems
Representatives from Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Pakistan discussed progress and gaps in HPV-related health information systems. Key challenges included fragmented databases, lack of integration with cancer registries, and minimal data from private sectors despite high service use there. Bangladesh highlighted DHIS2 scaling issues (server load, data quality); India explored leveraging the CoWIN […]
Lessons Learned from Other Vaccination Programs: Ministry of Education involvement in HPV and MR vaccination program – India
Dr. E. Naveen Nicolas presented the success of Sikkim, the first Indian state to integrate HPV vaccination for girls aged 9–14 into its routine immunization program. The campaign, launched in July 2018 with state funding and UNICEF support, combined school- and health facility–based delivery, covering over 1,100 schools and achieving over 97% coverage in both […]
Lessons Learned from Other Vaccination Programs: Ministry of Education involvement in HPV and MR vaccination program – India
Dr. E. Naveen Nicolas presented the success of Sikkim, the first Indian state to integrate HPV vaccination for girls aged 9–14 into its routine immunization program. The campaign, launched in July 2018 with state funding and UNICEF support, combined school- and health facility–based delivery, covering over 1,100 schools and achieving over 97% coverage in both […]
HPV South Asia Meeting: Prevention, control and the way forward. New Delhi, India.
Highlights from the HPV South Asia Meeting in New Delhi, India, focusing on prevention, control measures, and future directions. Experts convene to explore innovative strategies and collaborative efforts to fight HPV-related diseases in the region—showcasing progress, challenges, and a roadmap forward.
Lessons Learned from Other Vaccination Programs: Village Full Immunization Certification program in Nepal
The presentation by Sagar Dahal details Nepal’s Full Immunization Initiative (FID), which stems from the National Immunization Program (NIP) established in 1979. NIP now covers 13 antigens and prioritizes reaching every child, sustaining vaccine-preventable disease control, and ensuring local financial and operational ownership. Despite progress, challenges include coverage below 90%, dropout rates, and difficulties vaccinating […]
Overview of Gavi’s support for HPV vaccination programs in low and middle income countries (LMICs)
HPV vaccine delivery in Gavi-supported countries relies mainly on school-based platforms, complemented by outreach to reach out-of-school adolescents. Microplanning and joint coordination between health and education sectors ensure accurate cohort targeting and smooth logistics. Community engagement—through parent meetings, religious leaders, and media—helps address stigma and hesitancy. Trained vaccinators and health workers manage administration and adverse […]
Overview of Gavi’s support for HPV vaccination programs in low and middle income countries (LMICs) – Q&A Session
The session explored gender equity in HPV vaccination, clarifying that current focus is on girls due to cervical cancer burden, with boys possibly included in future strategies. Participants discussed Bangladesh’s upcoming national rollout in 2023, building on prior pilot success. Questions addressed the long-term immunity of single- or two-dose regimens, with evidence showing durable protection […]
Lessons Learned from Other Vaccination Programs: Intensified Mission Indradhanush/ Measles Rubella Vaccine campaign in India
India’s Universal Immunization Program covers millions annually, drawing lessons from past campaigns (polio, MR, Mission Indradhanush, COVID-19). These campaigns demonstrated large-scale mobilization, real-time data capture (eVIN, CoWIN), and multi-platform delivery (schools, outreach, mobile teams). Upcoming HPV rollout targets 68M girls (9–14 years) via phased campaigns, followed by routine inclusion at age nine. Strategy prioritizes school-based […]
Lessons Learned from Other Vaccination Programs: Measles Rubella vaccination experience in Bangladesh
Bangladesh delivers two routine measles-rubella vaccine doses at 9 and 15 months and supplements coverage with periodic campaigns. The immunization system operates through outreach sites in rural areas and urban centers, supported by web-based DHIS2 for microplanning, real-time reporting, GPS-based supervision, and public dashboards. Campaigns since 2005, including the 2020 follow-up that vaccinated 36 million […]