India, Feb. 18 -- The district's Health Department has begun preparations for a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign to be launched in the coming months, with the first phase targeting 15-year-old girls with free doses to help prevent cervical cancer at an early stage, officials said. No official roll out date has been confirmed yet, they added.

A senior official at the health department, requesting anonymity, said the first phase is expected to cover the targeted population within three months and will be followed by intensive screening to assess the prevalence of cervical cancer after vaccination. "The vaccine to be administered will be 'Gardasil-4' in a minimum of two doses at designated government health institutions with ...