India’s move to introduce a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme, for girls aged 14, strikes a strident note for science at a time when an anti-vaccination sentiment has perilously picked up favourable winds, globally. The impact of shunning vaccines is apparent in the United States where, currently, a measles epidemic is making its way across 26 States. The HPV vaccination will be conducted exclusively at designated government health facilities, and in the presence of trained medical officers, supported by skilled health-care teams equipped for post-vaccination observation and management of adverse events following immunisation (AEFI). A single-dose vaccine, a regimen recommended by the World Health Organization, will be deployed. Adequate evidence exists to show that almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by persistent infection with high-risk types of HPV, particularly 16 and 18. These two types together account for more than 80% of cervical cancer cases in India. Evidence also points to the fact that cervical cancer is largely preventable through HPV vaccination and regular screening, and can be cured if detected early and treated promptly. Globally, over 90 countries are implementing single-dose HPV vaccination schedules. Several countries have demonstrated substantial reductions in HPV infection, pre-cancerous lesions, and cervical cancer incidence following widespread vaccination. Cervical cancer remains a rare cancer where a vaccine has proven to be of great preventive value.