Center to launch HPV vaccination drive for girls aged 9 to 14 in 6 states

 

The first phase of the vaccination drive is expected to target 2.55 crore girls in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

In an effort to tackle the incidence of cervical cancer in India, the government has announced plans to administer the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to girls aged nine to 14 in six states.

This first phase of the vaccination drive is expected to target 2.55 crore girls in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, cited a PTI report. The Union Health Ministry plans to acquire 160.2 million doses of the vaccine by 2026 and is preparing for global bidding in April.

Serum Institute of India has recently launched an indigenous HPV vaccine against cervical cancer called Cervavac. Prakash Kumar Singh, director of government and regulatory affairs at the Serum Institute, has written a letter to the health ministry stating that Servvac will be available in the private market in a two-dose glass vial presentation for ₹2,000 per dose. Singh also promised that the vaccine will be made available at an affordable price whenever the health ministry issues a tender. Currently, only one HPV vaccine, Gardasil, produced by American multinational Merck, is available in the private market in India in a single-dose pre-filled syringe presentation for ₹10,850.

India is home to 16% of the world's women, but accounts for about 25% of global cervical cancer cases and about 33% of cervical cancer deaths. According to Indian officials, women in the country have a 1.6% lifetime cumulative risk of developing cervical cancer and a 1% cumulative death risk from the disease. About 80,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year in India, resulting in the death of 35,000 women.

Cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus, and the HPV vaccine has been shown to be a safe and effective way to prevent the disease. The vaccine is designed to protect against the two types of virus responsible for about 70% of cervical cancer cases. By vaccinating girls at an early age, the government aims to limit the spread of the virus and reduce the incidence of cervical cancer.