Ahmedabad, May 6 (IANS). Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation will conduct a massive vaccination drive across the city on May 7. This campaign is part of the HPV vaccination program being run to prevent cervical cancer in teenage girls.
Under this campaign, 14 to 15 year old girls will be given human papillomavirus vaccine free of cost in all urban health centers and municipal hospitals.
Eligible beneficiaries will be able to get vaccinated without any fee during this campaign. This is part of the comprehensive health program running in the city.
According to AMC officials, a target has been set to vaccinate 48,561 adolescent girls under this programme.
So far 22,137 girls have been vaccinated.
Earlier, in the campaign held on April 24, 1,933 girls were vaccinated and on April 30, 2,872 girls were vaccinated.
The Municipal Corporation said that HPV vaccine is available in private hospitals for around Rs 3,000 plus consultation fee, but under this government campaign it is being given for free so that more and more people can avail it.
In this campaign which started in February, along with vaccination, awareness programs are also being run.
Under this, publicity is being done through hoardings, banners, standees, radio jingles and social media.
AMC has also shared interviews and information of girls who have been vaccinated, to increase awareness among people and remove misconceptions.
According to official data, the program in Gujarat aims to cover 5,62,324 adolescent girls, out of which 5,06,100 girls have been vaccinated so far.
AMC has also involved local public representatives, social leaders and government and private schools in this campaign, so that maximum number of girls can be reached.
According to officials, the initiative is based on medical research and international vaccination practices, where the HPV vaccine is known to be effective in preventing cervical cancer.
This vaccination campaign will run till May 30, during which eligible girls aged 14 to 15 years can visit designated health centers in Ahmedabad and get free vaccination.
–IANS
AMT/DKP