India All Set To Launch First Indigenous Vaccine Against Cervical Cancer

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in collaboration with the Serum Institute of India (SII) is all set to launch India’s first indigenously developed Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus vaccine against cervical cancer on 1 September, Thursday, as per a report. Cervical cancer occurs in the cells of the cervix i.e. the lower part of the uterus, which connects to the vagina.

Centre issued a statement on the indigenous vaccine. The statement mentioned that the vaccine will be launched by the union minister of state (independent charge) science and technology, Jitendra Singh in Delhi.

Drugs Controller General of India gave clearance to the Serum Institute of India in July. Dr. N K Arora, chairperson of the Covid working group, National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) spoke on the vaccine effectiveness. Arora claimed, "It is very effective and prevents cervical cancer because, 85-90% of cases, cervical cancer is because of this particular virus and this vaccine is against those viruses. So, if we give it to our young children and daughters, they are protected from the infection, and consequently probably 30 years later, cancer does not occur.”

Vaccine Against Cervical Cancer Will  Benefit Girls

Government analysis exhibits that this vaccine generates antibodies against 6,11,16 and 18 strains, preventing cancer. The indigenous vaccine will prove to be a low-cost, affordable vaccine, as DBT claims. DBT officials also explained that the vaccine is based on VLP (virus-like particles) and antibodies generated work against the HPV virus’s L1 protein. Nearly 50 million girls aged 9–14 years in India will be benefited.

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Arora reportedly remarked about vaccine shortage in the global market and how this made-in-India vaccine will take care of Indian requirements.

A study estimates that cervical cancer occurs in approximately 1 in 53 Indian women during their lifetime compared with 1 in 100 women in more developed nations of the world. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), India accounts for about a fifth of the global burden of cervical cancer. India amounts to 1.23 lakh cervical cancer cases and roughly 67,000 deaths every year.