Only 34 of 200 turn up for free HPV shots at Delhi camp amid vaccine fears

Low turnout at Delhi vaccination camp

A free HPV vaccination camp organised in Delhi last week drew only 34 of the 200 girls who had registered. Health officials and doctors at the camp expressed concern over the poor response, pointing to deep-seated fears and misinformation about the vaccine.

The camp was meant to offer the first dose of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine at no cost to girls in the 9-14 age bracket. But nearly 83% of the registered beneficiaries skipped the appointment.

Doctors blame misinformation and fear

Speaking to ThePrint, doctors who ran the camp said many parents cancelled at the last minute after hearing rumours that the vaccine could cause infertility or serious side effects. Others believed their daughters did not need the shot because they were too young or not sexually active.

HPV is the primary cause of cervical cancer, which kills over 77,000 women in India every year. The vaccine is most effective when given before exposure to the virus, ideally before a girl becomes sexually active.

Senior paediatricians at the camp stressed that the HPV vaccine has been used safely in over 100 countries for more than a decade. They said the rumours circulating in neighbourhood groups and social media have no scientific basis.

Governor appeals to trust research

Delhi’s Governor, speaking at a separate health event, urged parents to trust research and not fall for scare campaigns. “Don’t fear the HPV vaccine. Trust the science and protect your daughters from a preventable cancer,” he said.

His comments came as health activists noted that India accounts for nearly one-fifth of the global cervical cancer burden. The government has been pushing for HPV vaccination to be included in the national immunisation programme, but uptake remains patchy due to awareness gaps.

One doctor’s mission in Telangana

In Telangana, a doctor has taken the fight against cervical cancer into her own hands. She has been organising free vaccination and screening camps across the state, aiming to create a model that can be replicated nationally.

“One vaccine, one mission,” she told The New Indian Express. Her camps have seen better turnout, but she admitted that convincing families is an uphill task. “We need to go door to door and talk to mothers. They are the decision-makers.”

What lies ahead

The Delhi camp’s low turnout is a stark reminder of the challenge health authorities face. While free shots and screening drives are being organised more frequently, the real battle is against misinformation. The next camp in the same area is scheduled for August. Officials are planning a door-to-door awareness drive in the weeks leading up to it, hoping to turn the numbers around.