Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Science and Technology, Topic: Medical Science and Health, Issue: Vaccine administration in India
Cervical Cancer:
- Cervical cancer caused by Human papillomavirus.
- It is second most prevalent among women in India (1.27 lakh cases and 80000 death reported annually).
Efforts worldwide to fight Cervical Cancer:
- The World Health Organization has set ambitious ’90-70-90′ targets by 2030 to eliminate cervical cancer within the next century.
- Scotland, Australia, Rwanda, and South Asian countries have eliminated cervical cancer through vaccination strategies.
- Sikkim achieved 97% vaccine coverage through targeted education efforts among various stakeholders.
Vaccination efforts:
- India’s indigenous Cervavac, priced at ₹2,000 a dose, enhances accessibility and affordability in fighting HPV infections.
- U-WIN portal: maintain an electronic registry of all immunizations across the country.
- enable vaccination programmes to be responsive in real time.
- HPV vaccination not only benefits individual health but also reduces societal and economic burdens related to cervical cancer.
The way ahead for India:
- Engage communities, dispel misinformation, and strengthen healthcare infrastructure.
- Ensuring access to vaccination services, especially in underserved populations,
- Tailoring messages and utilizing diverse channels like social media.
- Including HPV information in school health education.
Prelims Connect
| Â 90-70-90 target of WHO by 2030
·        90% of girls to be fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by the age of 15. ·        70% of women to undergo cervical cancer screening tests by the age of 35 and 45. ·        90% of women diagnosed with cervical cancer to receive treatment. |
