New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha was informed on Tuesday that the locally developed quadrivalent HPV vaccination will be considered for inclusion in the Universal Immunization Program (UIP) as a two-dose regimen for adolescent females aged 9 to 14 years.

The introduction of the HPV vaccine into the UIP with “a one-time catch-up for 9–14-year-old teenage females followed by routine introduction at 9 years” was advised by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) in June 2022. This was based on recent research on disease prevalence, evidence supporting the efficacy of the single dose of the HPV vaccine, data from clinical trials, and the experience of the government of Sikkim on the introduction of the vaccine.

According to the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, a phased introduction and nationwide scale-up are envisaged over a period of three to four years, depending on the availability of vaccine doses. Cervical cancer has several significant causes, one of which is the human papillomavirus (HPV).

(Source: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/policy/indigenously-developed-quadrivalent-hpv-vaccine-may-be-considered-for-introduction-in-uip-minister/98893818 )