Health Minister K. Muraleedharan has promised to take steps to boost the coverage of HPV vaccination to protect adolescent girls in the State from cervical cancer.

Opening a national conference organised by the Indian chapter of the Asia Oceania Research Organisation in Genital Infection & Neoplasia (AOGIN) at the Government Medical College here on Saturday (September 19), he said the vaccination coverage had been lower in some areas.

The HPV vaccine is being administered for free to 14-year-old girls at all government health centres as part of the national immunisation drive. Mr. Muraleedharan said lack of awareness was one of the reasons for the poor coverage and urged doctors to involve in activities to boost it.

The conference will conclude on Sunday (September 20).