HPV Vaccine for Girls Safety, Fertility & Cervical Cancer Explained

India’s HPV vaccination campaign has put a potentially cancer-preventing vaccine in the spotlight — but for many parents, one question remains: Can the HPV vaccine affect a girl’s future fertility? The HPV vaccine protects against infection with human papillomavirus, which can cause cervical cancer and several other cancers. India launched a nationwide HPV vaccination campaign in February 2026 targeting around 1.2 crore eligible 14-year-old girls. By July 15, more than 52 lakh girls had received the vaccine.