Centre plans to roll out SII qHPV vaccine for girls aged 9-14 years under National Immunization Programme
Cervical cancer can be prevented by vaccinating girls in the age group of 9-14 years with HPV vaccine, the sources said.
Advertisement
New Delhi: The government is planning to include Serum Institute of India's indigenously-developed Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus vaccine (qHPV) against cervical cancer in the National Immunization Programme.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to make an announcement on August 15, sources told the media agency.
In a recent communication to the Union health ministry, Prakash Kumar Singh, director (government and regulatory affairs) at SII is learnt to have conveyed that the firm can supply one crore doses of qHPV by December.
At present, the country is fully dependent on foreign manufacturers for the HPV vaccine. Three foreign companies manufacture the HPV vaccine of which two firms sell their vaccines in India. Each dose of the jab available in the market cost over Rs 4,000, the sources said.
SII's vaccine is likely to be available at a much affordable rate.
"The health ministry is planning to roll out qHPV for girls aged 9-14 years under the National Immunization Programme. The roll out may take up to six months," a source told the media agency.
Cervical cancer in India ranks as the second most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age. Globally, 6,04,000 women are affected by cervical cancer and 3,42,000 women die.
In India every year, 1,22,844 women are affected with cervical cancer of which 67,477 women die.
Cervical cancer can be prevented by vaccinating girls in the age group of 9-14 years with HPV vaccine, the sources said.
The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on July 12 granted market authorisation to SII to manufacture qHPV.
The phase 2/3 clinical trial of the vaccine has been completed with support of the Department of Biotechnology.
The government's advisory panel NTAGI recently approved qHPV after reviewing clinical trial data of the vaccine.
In the application to the DCGI, Singh had stated that qHPV vaccine CERVAVAC has demonstrated robust antibody response that is nearly 1,000 times higher than the baseline against all targeted HPV types and in all dose and age groups.
Our comments section is governed by our Comments Policy . By posting comments at Medical Dialogues you automatically agree with our Comments Policy , Terms And Conditions and Privacy Policy .
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.