NEW DELHI: India set to launch on Thursday Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine for cervical cancer prevention. It has been developed by Serum Institute of India (SII) in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
Until now, HPV vaccine needed to prevent cervical cancer were sourced from foreign manufacturers at a cost of between Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,500 per dose. Sources say indigenous vaccines could be much cheaper and therefore affordable.
The HPV vaccine is given in two to three doses, depending on the age of the patient at the time of initial vaccination. The India’s General Narcotics Control (DCGI) last month licensed the market to Serum Institute of India (SII) for production cervical cancer vaccine.
India accounts for about one-fifth of the global burden of cervical cancer, seeing about 1.23 lakh cases and about 67,000 deaths each year. Sources say the availability of an affordable vaccine to prevent the disease could help save lives.
Most cervical cancers are associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infections. Widespread immunization with the HPV vaccine may reduce the impact of cervical cancer and other cancers caused by HPV, the Mayo Clinic says.
Different strains of HPV are spread through sexual contact and are associated with most cases cervical cancer. The Mayo Clinic says the qHPV vaccine can prevent cases of cervical cancer if it is given before girls or women are exposed to the virus. A recent article in the Indian Journal of Gynecological Oncology stated that vaccination against high-risk strains of HPV is a safe and effective method for primary prevention of cervical cancer.
Until now, HPV vaccine needed to prevent cervical cancer were sourced from foreign manufacturers at a cost of between Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,500 per dose. Sources say indigenous vaccines could be much cheaper and therefore affordable.
The HPV vaccine is given in two to three doses, depending on the age of the patient at the time of initial vaccination. The India’s General Narcotics Control (DCGI) last month licensed the market to Serum Institute of India (SII) for production cervical cancer vaccine.
India accounts for about one-fifth of the global burden of cervical cancer, seeing about 1.23 lakh cases and about 67,000 deaths each year. Sources say the availability of an affordable vaccine to prevent the disease could help save lives.
Most cervical cancers are associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infections. Widespread immunization with the HPV vaccine may reduce the impact of cervical cancer and other cancers caused by HPV, the Mayo Clinic says.
Different strains of HPV are spread through sexual contact and are associated with most cases cervical cancer. The Mayo Clinic says the qHPV vaccine can prevent cases of cervical cancer if it is given before girls or women are exposed to the virus. A recent article in the Indian Journal of Gynecological Oncology stated that vaccination against high-risk strains of HPV is a safe and effective method for primary prevention of cervical cancer.
