Telangana launches HPV vaccination programme at King Koti hospital in Hyderabad

Telangana launches HPV vaccination program in Hyderabad to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer, starting March 8.

Telangana on Saturday (February 28, 2026) launched its Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme at the District Hospital in King Koti, Hyderabad, as part of a nationwide initiative aimed at preventing cervical cancer among adolescent girls.

The launch at the hospital was held around 11.30 a.m. and saw the participation of senior health officials, doctors, ASHA workers and parents. While the national event was digitally linked to locations across the country, the focus at King Koti was on administering the first doses to eligible girls from Telangana under the State-run public health system.

Inside the hospital, a designated vaccination area had been set up, with the vaccine stored in cold chain boxes and health workers coordinating the process.

Among the first beneficiaries was Hemadarshini, a 14-year-old girl, who received the Gardasil 4 vaccine in the presence of her mother. She was among eight girls aged above 14 to below 15 years who were vaccinated at the hospital, in line with the eligibility criteria laid down by the government. Parental consent was obtained in all cases.

Following vaccination, the girls were shifted to the Adverse Events Following Immunisation (AEFI) room, a six-bed observation facility within the hospital, where they were monitored for 30 minutes. “Although the vaccine is safe, we observe all beneficiaries for at least 30 minutes to rule out any immediate adverse reactions,” a doctor overseeing the AEFI room said.

Health officials clarified that Saturday’s (February 28) programme was only the formal launch, with routine vaccination scheduled to begin across government facilities in the State from March 8. Sangeetha Satyanarayana, Commissioner of Health and Family Welfare, said the rollout would coincide with International Women’s Day. The vaccine will initially be available for one month at government general hospitals, area hospitals and community health centres across Telangana, before being extended to selected primary health centres.