When healthcare workers launched Assam’s first structured human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign in March 2025, their most daunting obstacle was not logistical – it was overcoming widespread public fear and apprehension surrounding vaccine safety. One year later, the initiative has turned initial scepticism into hope, administering 3,800 doses of India’s indigenous CERVAVAC vaccine to 2,000 girls and young women with no major side effects.
Flawless Safety Record Overcomes Initial HPV Vaccine Hesitancy in Assam
Across 36 health camps conducted in 17 locations between March 2025 and February 2026, medical organisers recorded zero serious adverse events following immunisation. The sole side effect reported across all 3,800 injections was mild, temporary pain at the injection site, occurring in just 6.1 per cent of recipients.
That clean safety profile proved to be the campaign’s critical turning point. At the outset of the drive, fear of side effects and anxiety over a newly introduced vaccine ran high, particularly among tea garden workers, tribal populations, and rural communities. A baseline survey conducted across 25 locations in four districts under the aegis of the Assam Science Technology Environment Council (ASTEC) revealed that fewer than 1 per cent of eligible women had ever been vaccinated against HPV, with nearly 40 per cent unaware of the vaccine entirely and 60 per cent citing access and financial hurdles. However, 88.1 per cent of respondents stated they would accept the vaccine if offered at a subsidised rate, according to the reserach conducted by Gayatri Gogoi from Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh, Dippy Aggarwal from Dispur Hospital Private Limited, Guwahati and Amay Kashyap Deka from Delhi Public School, Guwahati.
As early participants completed their initial and second doses without severe complications, public confidence rose sharply. Word-of-mouth reassurance among families and peers helped dismantle safety fears, converting public hesitation into proactive community participation. The resulting momentum enabled the drive to achieve the highest annual HPV vaccination output ever recorded by a non-governmental organization in India.
Combating India’s Cervical Cancer Burden with Indigenous CERVAVAC
The drive utilised CERVAVAC, a quadrivalent HPV vaccine targeting serotypes 6, 11, 16, and 18. Manufactured by the Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. in Pune and approved by the Drug Controller General of India in 2022, the vaccine defends against the principal cause of cervical cancer. High-risk HPV genotypes 16 and 18 cause 99.7 per cent of cervical squamous cell carcinomas, and prophylactic immunisation can prevent up to 90 per cent of cases. In India, which bears nearly 20 per cent of the global cervical cancer burden, nearly two-thirds of cases are diagnosed at late, incurable stages.
To guarantee clinical safety and strict oversight throughout the campaign, 18 voluntary physician coordinators, 22 nurses, and 25 community volunteers were mobilised. Healthcare staff completed online capacity-building training organized by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in collaboration with the American Cancer Society and the Cancer Foundation of India under the “Prevent Global HPV Cancers” banner. Complementary research supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) helped map underlying viral prevalence in the region, while primary financial backing from the Pratishruti Cancer and Palliative Trust in Dibrugarh enabled subsidised procurement and donor-sponsored coverage for over 200 economically disadvantaged recipients, including full coverage for 47 girls from cancer-affected families.
Grassroots Mobilisation Backed by Leading National Medical Institutes
Operating under the participatory motto “Manuhe Manuhor Babe” (For the People, By the People), the campaign reached 2,000 beneficiaries across key age groups. Young women aged 15 to 26 comprised the majority at 75.82 per cent, with 36.78 per cent receiving their first dose, 27.37 per cent receiving their second, and 14.44 per cent completing the full three-dose series. Participants aged 26 and older represented 13.45 per cent of recipients, while girls aged 9 to 14 made up 10.73 percent. Vaccines were administered according to national clinical guidelines: a two-dose schedule at day zero and six months for ages 9 to 14, and a three-dose schedule at day zero, two months, and six months for ages 15 and above.
Beyond protecting young women, the campaign’s strong safety reputation generated a secondary health benefit across participating villages. Reassured by their daughters’ safe vaccination experiences, accompanying mothers were frequently motivated to undergo screening for both cervical and breast cancer.
Vaccination Outcomes, Age Distribution, and Long-Term Completion Challenges
Despite the breakthrough in building safety trust, organisers noted ongoing operational challenges. A sharp drop-off occurred between initial and final doses across the six-month regimen, emphasising the difficulty of maintaining multi-dose patient follow-up in rural areas. Additionally, with girls aged 9 to 14 representing just over 10 per cent of total recipients, public health specialists stress that expanding school-based outreach will be essential to match national policy goals and protect girls before potential viral exposure.