Syllabus: GS-III;
Subject: Technology;
Topic: Services relating to Health.
Context: The Indian government plans to roll out a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign for girls aged 9-14 to combat cervical cancer.
Issue: Vaccination for cervical cancer.
Synopsis:
- The vaccine not only targets cervical cancer but also protects against HPV strains causing cancer in the anus, vagina, oropharynx, and genital warts.
- Aims to immunize one-third of girls aged 9-14 each year over three years, with a total target of nearly 8 crore children across the country.
- India accounts for about 20% of global cervical cancer cases, with 1.25 lakh new cases and 75,000 deaths annually, making it the second most common cancer among women in the country.
- The vaccine, Cervavac, developed by the Serum Institute of India, is quadrivalent, offering protection against HPV strains.
- The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) has recommended ICMR to conduct trials on the efficacy of a single-dose regimen for HPV vaccine in the 9-15 age group, considering global WHO guidelines supporting a single-dose regimen for public health programs.
Background:
Way Forward: Expand HPV vaccination to boys, enhance awareness, and ensure accessible healthcare, progressing towards comprehensive prevention of cervical cancer.
