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Source: This post on the Cervical Cancer Vaccine Drive has been created based on the article “Express View on cervical cancer vaccine drive: A healthy new year” published in “Indian Express” on 13th January 2024.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2 Social Justice – Issues relating to Health.
News: The article discusses the proposed cervical cancer vaccination drive in India.
Background:
Around 75,000 women in India die each year of cervical cancer. India accounts for 1/5th of the world’s cervical vaccine burden. It is also the 2nd-most common cancer among Indian women, after breast cancer.
The Government is planning to roll out vaccines for cervical cancer later this year. Cervavac is the indigenous vaccine, developed by the Serum Institute of India (SII), that will be used in the government campaign.
What is Human Papillomavirus (HPV)?
HPV is a common virus and 90% of sexually active women already have it.
At least 14 HPV types have been identified to have the potential to cause cancer. Among these, HPV types 16 and 18 are the most lethal.
How does the HPV vaccine prevent cancers?
It prevents the entry of four common types of HPV (Type 16, 18, 6 and 11) thereby preventing infections and genital warts.
More than 95% of all cervical cancer cases are linked to persistent infection with high-risk strains of HPV. Thus, vaccination can be effectively used to thereby prevent cervical cancer cases.
HPV infection is also linked to cancers of anus, vagina and oropharynx, which can also be reduced through it.
Who should get the HPV vaccine?
1) The vaccine must be administered in adolescent girls before they are sexually active. This is because the vaccine can only prevent the entry of the virus. The response to the vaccine is also better in adolescence.
2) Although not covered by the planned government campaign, the vaccine can also be administered to adolescent boys and is recommended for men who have sex with men.
3) While the vaccine is not as effective among older women, it can still be administered up to the age of 45 years.
What are the challenges in preventing cervical cancer through vaccination?
- Expensive: It costs about Rs 2,000 a shot, hence expensive for a large section of the country’s population.
- Lack of Awareness: There is a huge lack of awareness about the disease.
For instance, a minimum of two screenings of women by age 35 and again by age 45 is recommended but doesn’t usually happen in India.
Question for practice:
What is Human Papillomavirus (HPV)? What are the challenges in administering a mass vaccination drive against HPV in India?
