India launches Cervavac, First Vaccine To Prevent Cervical Cancer: 10 Things To Know

Cervavac is India’s first quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (qHPV) vaccine against cervical cancer. It aims to prevent or reduce the number of cervical cancer cases. The vaccine was recently launched by the Serum Institute of India (SII) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) on the occasion of National Girl Child Day.

It is to be noted that cervical cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer found in women. More than 95% of cervical cancer cases are caused by sexually transmitted HPVs.

Vaccine To Prevent Cervical Cancer: 10 Things To Know

1. The Cervavac vaccine prevents people from contracting Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which is the most common viral infection of the reproductive system. It is a sexually transmitted infection. More than 95% of cervical cancer cases are caused by sexually transmitted HPVs.
2. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) granted market authorisation to the Serum Institute of India (SII), a Pune-based organization, to manufacture Cervavac.
3. Other than warts around the genital area, HPV usually has no noticeable symptoms.
4. In India, cervical cancer is the second-most common cancer among women between the ages of 15 and 44.
5. The government has planned to target girls between the ages of 9 and 14 for the Cervavac vaccination. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), girls between the ages of 15 and 20 should be administered two doses of any standard cervical vaccine.
6. Women older than 21 years old can take two doses of the HPV vaccine at a six-month interval after consulting with their doctor.
7. The cost of each dose of this vaccine would be around Rs. 200 to Rs. 400.
8. The qHPV vaccine Cervavac has demonstrated a robust antibody response that is nearly 1000 times higher than the baseline against all targeted HPV types.
9. Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.
10. Dr Soumya Swaminathan, WHO's chief scientist, told The Indian Express that "Cervavac" is good news. ⁠"It will be great to see this vaccine being rolled out in the national HPV vaccination strategies in India and globally. We have a real opportunity to eliminate cervical cancer, which causes a lot of death and suffering worldwide among women," she added.

Disclaimer: Please consult your doctor before administering the vaccine.

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