India, Oct. 14 -- Maharashtra has extended its human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive until December after covering just 8% of its target population, nearly seven months after the campaign was launched to protect adolescent girls against cervical cancer.

Launched on March 8, the drive aims to vaccinate 984,414 girls aged 14-15 years. However, only 82,059 had received the vaccine by October 5, according to the state health department's latest report. The campaign was initially expected to be completed within three months, before HPV vaccination was integrated into the routine immunisation programme.

The slow uptake contrasts with the progress in other states. Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram have achieved 100% cov...