Cervical Cancer Vaccine: Here is everything you should know about India's self-developed HPV jab

In a big achievement, India will launch its first self-developed vaccine for prevention against cervical cancer today. Union Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh along with SII CEO Adar Poonawalla will launch the vaccine at IIC Delhi.

India pharma regulator, Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) had last month granted market authorisation to Serum Institute of India (SII) to manufacture the indigenously-developed vaccine against cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer in India ranks as the second most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age. World Health Organization (WHO) data says that nearly 42 lakh women have died due to cervical cancer in India since 2019.

Here are some important facts about this most awaited vaccine:

1. What is cervical cancer?
   
2. What is HPV vaccine
   
3. What is the price of cervical cancer vaccine in India
   
   • The vaccine is likely to be available at a much affordable rate. At present, the country is fully dependent on foreign manufacturers.
   • Three foreign companies manufacture the HPV vaccine of which two firms sell their vaccines in India.
   • Each vaccine dose is available in the market at over Rs 4,000.
4. When will be the Cervical cancer vaccine available in India
   
   • Government may launch the vaccine under the National Immunisation programme for 9-14-year-old girls in the next few months.