New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry has confirmed plans to roll out the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as part of the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) for school girls in the coming months. The initiative aims to protect against cervical cancer, which is the second most common cancer among women in India.
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava stated that while the HPV vaccine would be introduced soon, the rollout of the TB vaccine would take longer. She added that the ministry is strategizing the way forward for implementation.
Cervical cancer remains a major public health concern in India, causing 77,348 deaths annually. The disease is preventable and curable if detected early and treated properly. The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) had earlier recommended including the HPV vaccine in the UIP, but the decision was delayed.
In 2023, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) granted market authorization to the Serum Institute of India (SII) to manufacture India’s first indigenously-developed Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus vaccine (qHPV). While the vaccine is currently available in the private sector, its inclusion in the UIP will ensure broader accessibility and protection for young girls across the country.
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