News of the Day! India developed its own vaccine for cervical cancer. For sisters and daughters from India, I have some exciting news. India made its own cervical cancer vaccine named Tetravalent HPV Vaccine.
Serum Institute of India Private Limited, which is supported by the Indian federal government, developed the vaccine in conjunction with the DBT (Department of Biotechnology). For Indian scientists, this is a significant accomplishment.
This accomplishment demonstrates the determination and expertise of Indian scientists. India is developing in the fields of medical science and space exploration.
On 1st September 2022, India launched this indigenously made Cervical cancer vaccine.
India introduced its domestically produced cervical cancer vaccine on September 1st, 2022.
India is one of the countries with the highest rates of cervical cancer worldwide.
According to the most recent statistics, India is now hosting about 166000 cervical cancer sufferers. About 60000 women per year died from this devastating disease. These facts alone are adequate to justify the demand for this tetravalent HPV vaccine.
What is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer term comes from the word ” cervix.” Cervix is the next inner part of the vagina. In Hindi cervix is called ” bachcha – dani.” cancer of the cervix is named cervical cancer. As the cervix is the organ only found in the female body, males are beyond risk.
Cervical cancer is considered to be an STD or sexually transmitted disease. Unlike other cancers,
cervical cancer is the result of a viral infection. It is hard to believe that a virus can cause cancer.
For a long time, Indian women have been suffering from this deadly disease. Mainly, women with malnutrition, rare medical checkups, poor hygiene, and staying below the poverty line are mostly affected. women who are intimate with multiple male partners are more prone to this disease.
A regular medical check-up with a gynecologist can help you to prevent the disease at an early stage. An HPV vaccine before the disease can prevent the disease to happen.
What is the Human Papilloma Virus?
Human papillomavirus, in short HPV, is a virus that infects both males and females. When it infects the cervix of the female genital organ, it causes cancer and that cancer is called cervical cancer.
There is a total of 14 strains are available for cervical cancer. Strain 16 and 18 are the most deadly. whereas strains 6 and 8 are responsible for common warts in the male body.
A recent study proved that some strains of HPV are responsible for oral cancer, and throat cancer in males. That is why in some countries males are recommended the HPV vaccine.
How could cervical cancer be detected? It could be detected by the PAP smear technique. In the initial days of infection, it does not give any symptoms, if the woman regularly consults a gynecologist she could prevent the disease.
But, the most cost-effective method is vaccination.
Why is this India-made cervical cancer vaccine so important?
The Indian market was already occupied by the foreign company made cervical cancer vaccines. Why then do so many Indian women and girls receive this awful disease each year? The problem is the price.
There are two famous cervical cancer vaccines of foreign brands available in the Indian market. But, they are so costly that the common Indian people, mostly the girls (or women) of rural areas can’t afford them. That is why the India-manufactured vaccine is too much important.
This vaccine is supposed to be at an affordable price or free for Indian women. Let’s discuss the features of this indigenous Cervical Cancer vaccine (HPV vaccine)
cervical cancer vaccines available in India:
On 1st September India launched its own vaccine but, it will take more time to be available in the Indian market or in hospitals. But, other two foreign companies manufactured vaccines available. one is called Gardasil Vaccine and another one is called Cervarix. Both of them are costly.
Gardasil is of PSD Pharmaceutical and Cervarix is GSK. GSK is for two strains of human papillomavirus. Whereas Gardasil is for the four strains of Human Papilloma Virus. Gardasil vaccine is well accepted globally. Gardasil vaccine creates the antibody for HPV strains 6, 11, 16, and 18.
Normally two to three doses are needed with several months of gap. They cost about Rs 3000 to 4000 for each dose.
cervical cancer vaccine cost:
cervical cancer vaccine cost is quite high for Indian people. The cost of the foreign company-made vaccine is Rs 3000 to 4000 for each dose. Whereas the Indian vaccine is supposed to cost around Rs 400.
There is a need for 2-3 doses of immunization, and using a foreign brand vaccine, the total cost could go up to 6000 to 10000 Indian rupees, whereas the India-made vaccine could cost 1500 rupees total.
Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the institute SII said in an interview with Aaj Tak ” first we will give this vaccine to Indian people then we will give it to the other countries as we did in COVID time”.
…first we will give this vaccine to indian people then we will give it to the other contries…
Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the institute SII
When he was asked about the price of the vaccine, he said “still it is under discussion. But, most probably the price stays between Rs 200 to 400. we will talk to the government and then it will be fixed up”.
“We can manufacture 200 million doses in two years. Our country would require about 100 million doses” Mr. Poonawalla said.
Features of Cervical Cancer vaccine in India
The features of this vaccine are mentioned bellow
- Will be available at the cheapest price.
- It is a quadrivalent vaccine, so fight with four responsible strains of HPV
- This cervical cancer vaccine is developed for Indian people, so there are supposed to be rare side effects or no side effects at all.
- This shows one more step toward the “made in India”
- When this vaccine will be sold to the market of another country, this will easily be accepted because of its low price. So, it would be economically beneficial.
What should be the age of immunization of cervical cancer vaccine?
There is no proper announcement about the cervical cancer vaccine age. But, it is supposed to be 9-12 years before starting sexual contact. The immunized girls will have the antibody memory cell to fight the virus if inoculated.
On the other hand, the patients or the disease sufferers could also be given the vaccine. There might be a recovery from the disease, although this is not clarified by the government.
In a discussion published in Aaj Tak, medical reporter Milan Sharma said up to the age of 45 years this HPV vaccine could be immunized. Even this HPV vaccination may be included in the National Immunization Program so that every single woman within a certain age group could be immunized.
What should be the cervical cancer vaccine schedule?
The Schedule is mentioned as between 9-14 years of age group two doses are sufficient in a six months of interval. It is abbreviated 0- 6 months
At and above 15 years of a person three dosages are recommended. The schedule of this vaccination should be 0 – 1 – 6 months. This means that after a gap of 1-month second dose is administered and after gap of 6 months from the first dose the third dose is administered.
What is the dose of the cervical cancer vaccine ?
Still, the India-made vaccine is not launched in that maket. But, in the case of the Gardasil vaccine, age group 9-14 recommended having two doses of six months of intervals. For the age group, 15 and above three doses are recommended with 0 -1 – 6 months.
What would be the Cervical cancer vaccine price India ?
India – made cervical cancer vaccine is supposed to be available at the price between 200-400. But, other foreign companies made cervical cancer vaccines available at 3000-4000 rupees per dose in the Indian market.