Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Monday said that HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination would be administered to girl students of Class XI and XII as part of efforts to eliminate cervical cancer in Kerala. 

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by the minister in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. A final decision on sourcing the vaccine will be made at the technical committee meeting in a week's time.

The cervix uteri is the third most cancer-affected part in females in Kerala, after the breast and thyroid. A recent study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has found that 7.9 per cent of female patients in Kerala have cervical cancer. The most affected site is the breast (73.35 per cent) and then the thyroid (24.9 per cent) among female patients in Kerala.

It is said that cervical cancer, like the malignancy of the liver, can be prevented by vaccination. Cervical cancer is primarily caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and vaccination against HPV significantly reduces the risk.

The HPV vaccination is most effective when administered between the ages of nine and 14. Nonetheless, doctors say that it could be taken till females reach 26 years.

Earlier in the year, the government had launched a screening campaign for all women above 30 years for cervical and breast cancer. By now, over 17 lakh women have been screened. The vaccination of school girls is the next step in the process to reduce cancer incidences in Kerala.

The high-level meeting also decided to launch a massive awareness drive in the run-up to the HPV vaccination drive. Students, teachers and parents will be made part of the drive.