Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination among Adolescent Girls: Implications for Cervical Cancer Prevention and Women’s Health

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection worldwide and a necessary cause of cervical cancer. Adolescence represents a critical window for HPV vaccination, as immunization before sexual debut provides maximal protection against oncogenic HPV strains. This review synthesizes evidence on the epidemiology of HPV infection in adolescent girls, immunological justification for early vaccination, vaccine types, efficacy, safety, global and India-specific coverage trends, barriers to uptake, and public health strategies to enhance vaccination rates. The evidence overwhelmingly supports HPV vaccination among adolescent girls as a safe, effective, and cost-effective intervention for reducing cervical cancer burden and improving long-term women’s health outcomes.