In a significant step towards curbing the escalating instances of cervical cancer, the central government of India is gearing up to launch a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign targeting girls aged 9 to 14.

Cervical cancer, the second most prevalent cancer among women in India, affects over 1,20,000 women annually, with Maharashtra alone reporting 8,000 cases. Shockingly, approximately 77,000 women succumb to the disease each year, making India the country with the highest burden of cervical cancer in Asia.

The initiative aims to reach over 500 million women and girls at risk of cervical cancer in India. The vaccination drive is strategically planned in three phases over the next three years and is slated to commence in the second quarter of this year, pending the procurement of 6.5-7 crore doses for the first phase.

The Serum Institute of India introduced an indigenous HPV vaccine called CERVAVAC, priced at Rs. 2,000 per dose in the private market, last year. The government plans to float tenders to make the vaccine more affordable.

(Source:https://indianexpress.com/article/india/govt-set-to-roll-out-vaccine-drive-to-fight-cervical-cancer-9105897/ )