Nepal Launches Cervical Cancer Campaign with First HPV Vaccine Shipment

Nepal has launched a campaign to fight cervical cancer with the arrival of its first shipment of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. 

The initial batch includes 460,940 doses of the Cicoline vaccine, developed by the Chinese company Innovax and supported by GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance. A total of 1.77 million doses will be delivered for the initiative.

From February 4 to February 18, 2025, 1.688 million girls aged 10 to 14 years will be receiving the vaccine free of cost. To reach more children, 18,900 schools will serve as vaccination centers, and health institutions outside schools will also provide the vaccine.

The campaign will involve a large workforce, including over 27,000 health workers, 54,000 volunteers, and 15,000 supervisors. Dr. Abhiyan Gautam from the Department of Health Services emphasized the importance of this effort, as studies show the HPV vaccine can reduce the risk of cervical cancer by 70 percent.