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16/12/22 11:36 AM IST

Vaccine against cervical cancer to be included by mid-2023: NTAGI chief

In News
  • India would be in a position to roll out the indigenously developed Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV) against cervical cancer for girls in the age group of 9-14 under the National Immunisation Programme by mid-2023.
About the vaccine
  • Cervavac is a quadrivalent vaccine that is capable of preventing cervical cancer through the immunization process.
  • It is known as a quadrivalent vaccine since it is capable of providing immunization against four different strains of HPV – 6, 11,16 and 18.
  • It is India’s first indigenously developed Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus vaccine (qHPV).
  • It was developed by the Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Science and Technology Ministry, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
  • Until the launch of this vaccine, there were only two international HPV vaccines – Gardasil vaccine (first ever vaccine approved by the FDA in 2006) and Cervarix.
  • Initially, Sikkim’s model will be followed to administer HPV vaccine for girls aged 9-14 years in campaign mode. This will then be added to the routine immunization schedule for 9-year-old girls.
  • A system similar to CoWin will be used to implement the immunization programme based on a clear communication strategy.
Cervical Cancer
  • Cervical cancer develops in an individual’s cervix – the passage that connects the vagina (birth canal) to the upper part of the uterus. Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women.
  • In India, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women after breast cancer.
  • The number of cervical cancer and deaths are increasing in India – a 14 percent increase in cases and deaths between 2015 and 2020.
  • The states of Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu recorded the highest estimated incidences of cervical cancer and the highest number of deaths related to the same in 2020.
Source- Business Standard

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