Dharamshala: The Department of Health, CTA, began immunising school girls at TCV Upper, STS Peteon, THF Rajpur, and THF Deckyiling schools on May 1, 2023.

Infections with the human papillomavirus (HPV) are the main cause of cervical cancer and cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. The HPV vaccine can be used to protect against the strains of HPV that are most likely to cause genital warts or cervical cancer. Sexual contact or other skin-to-skin contact is a common way for this virus to spread. The Department sought to immunise every female student in Tibetan schools from grades 7 to 12. This year, the Department’s target area is schools in northern India.

One shot of HPV vaccination is offered to female students as per the recommendation by the WHO and the National Cancer Institute.

A total of 219 girls have been vaccinated.