NEW DELHI (Azat TV) – The global focus on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is rapidly expanding beyond adolescent girls to encompass both sexes and a broader adult age range, underscoring its critical role in preventing a wide spectrum of HPV-related cancers and genital warts. This strategic shift is driven by growing medical consensus on the vaccine’s extensive protective capabilities and the imperative for comprehensive public health strategies.
India, for example, has initiated a nationwide, voluntary, and free HPV vaccination drive targeting girls aged 9-14 years, primarily to combat cervical cancer. However, medical experts are increasingly emphasizing that HPV is not solely a women’s health issue, advocating for the inclusion of boys in vaccination programs to protect against male-specific cancers and to enhance community-wide immunity.
India’s HPV Vaccination Drive Targets Girls
As of February 2026, India is rolling out its free HPV vaccination campaign for girls aged 9-14 at government health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and District Hospitals. This initiative aligns with the Union Budget 2024 speech, which encouraged vaccination for this age group to prevent cervical cancer. The program utilizes Gardasil, a quadrivalent vaccine that protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18. Studies have shown HPV vaccines to be 93–100% effective in preventing cervical cancer caused by these prevalent HPV types, according to Drishti IAS.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set ambitious global targets to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030, aiming for 90% of girls to be fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by age 15. India’s current campaign is a significant step towards achieving this goal, particularly by targeting girls before they become sexually active.
Expanding HPV Protection: The Case for Vaccinating Boys and Adults
While cervical cancer prevention remains a primary driver for HPV vaccination, medical professionals are increasingly highlighting the necessity of vaccinating adolescent boys. Dr. Manish Mann, Head of Paediatrics and Neonatology at Paras Health, Gurugram, states that HPV vaccination is a recommended preventive health measure for boys. The vaccine protects them from penile, anal, and throat cancers, as well as genital warts, all of which have shown a steady rise in incidence over the years.
Data from GLOBOCAN 2022 revealed over 10,000 cases of penile cancer in India in a single year, with anal cancer also on the rise and frequently linked to HPV infection. HPV-related oropharyngeal (throat) cancers are also increasing among Indian men, accounting for 63.2 percent of all HPV-related male cancers in the country. Genital warts, caused primarily by HPV types 6 and 11, are also commonly reported in men, with prevalence rates ranging from 2% to 25% in STI clinics, India Today reported.
Medical oncologist Dr. Sachin Sekhar Biswal of Manipal Hospital in Bhubaneshwar emphasizes that vaccinating boys at an early age not only reduces the spread of the virus within the community but also provides long-term protection for the entire population, fostering positive public health outcomes. Beyond adolescents, vaccination is also advised up to 45 years of age in some cases, highlighting its broader applicability.
Global Progress and Cost Challenges for Comprehensive HPV Coverage
Around the world, countries are adopting varied approaches to HPV immunization. Belarus, for instance, launched a free HPV vaccination program for girls aged 11 in September 2025 and has already achieved an 83% vaccination rate among eligible children by mid-January 2026. Despite this success, Belarusian authorities noted that the vaccine is only recommended for boys and not included in the national schedule, meaning boys and older women must get vaccinated at their own expense. In contrast, Poland offers free HPV vaccination for both girls and boys aged 9 to 14, providing a more comprehensive public health approach, according to Belsat.
The availability and cost of different HPV vaccines present a significant challenge. In India’s private market, options include Merck & Co.’s Gardasil 4 and Gardasil 9, GlaxoSmithKline’s Cervarix, and Serum Institute of India’s Cervavac. While Cervarix targets HPV types 16 and 18 (responsible for over 80% of cervical cancers), Gardasil 9 offers the broadest protection against nine HPV types (6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58), covering 75–90% of cervical cancers, other HPV-related cancers, and most genital warts. However, the cost of Gardasil 9 is substantial, with a single dose costing around Rs 10,500, making the recommended three-dose regimen for optimal protection nearly Rs 32,000 per child, a price point that makes comprehensive protection difficult for many families.
HPV spreads through intimate skin-to-skin contact, most commonly during sexual activity. Infection occurs when genitals come into contact with infected body parts, and high-risk strains can lead to precancerous changes and malignancies. Vaccination offers significant protection against many of these strains and the cancers they cause.
The evolving landscape of HPV vaccination, marked by expanding recommendations for both sexes and adults, signifies a crucial maturation in global public health strategy. By recognizing HPV as a universal health threat and advocating for broader immunization, medical communities are reinforcing the vaccine’s potential to dramatically reduce the incidence of multiple cancers and related conditions, moving closer to the ambitious goal of eliminating HPV-related diseases.