New Delhi, Sept. 12 -- India has vaccinated 8 million adolescent girls in the past six months against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) under the National HPV Vaccination Campaign, aimed at preventing cervical cancer, Union ministry of health and family welfare announced on Friday. "The milestone marks the expanding reach of HPV vaccination through the public health system and reinforces India's commitment to strengthening preventive healthcare for adolescent girls," said health ministry in a statement. Five states -Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram- have achieved 100% cover of their respective identified target populations. Whereas, Bihar Andhra Pradesh and Assam have crossed 90% coverage, Karnataka achieved 85%, Chhattisgarh, Sikkim, Kerala, Telangana and Odisha crossed 60% coverage, the ministry said. Among states, Uttar Pradesh has recorded the highest number of vaccinations, with more than 2.2 million adolescent girls vaccinated. With 123,000 new diagnoses annually, India accounts for approximately one-fifth of all cervical cancer cases globally and one-quarter of all cervical cancer deaths, and it is the second most common cancer among Indian women. The vaccination campaign was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 28 this year. Under the campaign, 14-year-old girls are provided voluntary and free-of-cost single-dose HPV vaccination, with parental consent, at government health facilities....