Shillong: Meghalaya has vaccinated just 2,075 of its 39,796 eligible girls against human papillomavirus (HPV), achieving 5.2% coverage since the campaign began in February and placing the state among the four lowest-performing nationally, State Immunisation Officer B.R. Marak said on Wednesday.
Marak shared the figures at the launch of ‘Teeka Talk’ at the DERT Annex auditorium in Malki. Supported by Girl Effect India, the initiative aims to improve HPV vaccination through community engagement and awareness programmes. It will initially cover two blocks each in East Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi, with a possible expansion across the state.
Vaccination coverage remains low across several districts. East Khasi Hills has vaccinated 1.9% of eligible girls, followed by Ri-Bhoi at 6.1%, East Jaintia Hills at 8.5% and South West Khasi Hills at 17.4%, Marak said.
She attributed the low uptake to misinformation about vaccine safety, myths linking vaccination to infertility, difficulties obtaining parental consent, limited access and inadequate follow-up.
Under the national campaign launched on February 28, girls aged 14 who have not yet turned 15 are eligible for free HPV vaccination at government health facilities up to the primary health centre level, subject to parental consent. Although girls aged nine and above can receive the vaccine, the free government campaign is currently limited to those in the specified 14-year-old age group.
The HPV vaccine helps prevent infections responsible for most cases of cervical cancer, a major public health concern.
Marak said awareness campaigns needed to move beyond one-way communication and provide opportunities for parents and eligible girls to clarify their concerns. She called for improved information, education and communication materials, including video testimonials from vaccinated beneficiaries and cancer patients, to counter fear and misinformation.
To improve coverage, she proposed registering eligible girls on the U-WIN platform after parental consent and linking willing families with health services. She also suggested setting weekly vaccination targets for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and holding weekly district-level reviews, particularly in blocks where no vaccinations have been recorded.
Marak called for coordinated efforts involving the Health, Education and Social Welfare departments, district administrations, village authorities, ASHAs and Anganwadi workers. She urged the Education Department to facilitate school-based awareness sessions and parent meetings, and recommended community outreach during examination periods.
Frontline workers were also asked to provide accurate information during home visits and identify eligible girls who had dropped out of school.
Since the campaign began, the state health department has trained healthcare workers, distributed vaccines and cold-chain equipment, established emergency control rooms and designated 145 health facilities to operate round the clock to manage any adverse events following immunisation.
District officials review progress monthly, while the state conducts weekly assessments. Marak said the ‘Teeka Talk’ initiative could help build public confidence and improve vaccine uptake through sustained community engagement.