Cervevac, the first domestically produced, quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV) was officially released on 1 September 2022.  This vaccine, according to the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is for prevention of Cervical Cancer. Cervical Cancer develops in the Cervix's cells and is the most common cancer among women in the 15-44 age groups. The vaccine has been developed by the Serum Institute of India (SII).

The Cervevac qaudrivalent HPV vaccine has shown a strong antibody response that is almost 1,000 times greater than the baseline against all targeted HPV strains and in all dosage and age categories, according to the experts. The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science &Technology, Jitendra Singh launched the vaccine on 1 September.

Why take this vaccine

The quadrivalent Human Papilloma (HPV) vaccine protects against HPV types 6,11,16, and 1, which are responsible for 70-80% of Cervical Cancer cases and at least 50% of genital wart cases. Earlier the vaccine was available to females in the 12-26 age bracket under the National Immunisation Program (NIP). All HPV vaccines are given at the age of 9 years. HPV vaccines are important because the vaccine protects from various HPV infections that can cause cancer but not all. Additionally, HPV vaccination has decreased the number of Cervical pre-cancer in young women.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Recombinant is a quadrivalent immunization agent that helps in developing immunity. Vaccination can also lower the prevalence of the vaccine-targeted HPV types in the population, reducing infection in people who are not protected from a phenomenon called herd protection, or herd immunity. In order to prevent GW in healthy women and men, standard immunization programs should include the HPV vaccine.

Experts stress that quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus vaccines aid in preventing diseases brought on by HPV, such as Cervical Cancer. Global data’s Pharmaceutical Intelligence Center projects that from 2021 to 2030, there will be 540,435 diagnosed prevalent cases of Cervical Cancer in India, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 3.11% from 424,341 in 2021.

Cervical Cancer is the second most common cancer found in females of India. More than a lakh of young women experience severe mental and physical problems by Cervical Cancer, a disease which can be prevented by vaccination and routine screening. India has created a landmark in the history of medical research by making this vaccine for this slow growing cancer.

Caveat

Health experts, however, are cautious about this launch as teh clinical trial study data has not been made public. The list of benefits and harmful side effects are known only through publicly available clinical trial data.