The Indian government is launching a three-phase vaccination drive against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) for girls aged 9-14 to reduce the risk of cervical cancer. This initiative also aims to provide protection against different HPV strains, which cause cancers such as those of the anus, vagina, and oropharynx. In addition to these, the vaccine also protects against HPV strains responsible for genital warts. The Serum Institute of India launched an indigenous HPV vaccine, CERVAVAC, in 2023.
Understanding Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer originates in a woman’s cervix and is considered the fourth most common type of cancer among women worldwide, and the second most common among Indian women. A distressing fact is that out of every four deaths globally due to cervical cancer, almost one occurs in India, according to a study published in The Lancet.
Cervical cancer cases are closely linked to infections with high-risk HPV strains, transmitted through sexual contact. Almost 99% of all cervical cancer cases show traces of this viral infection. However, implementing effective primary (HPV vaccination) and secondary prevention strategies (screening for and treating precancerous lesions) can prevent most cases of cervical cancer. When early detection occurs and effective management is in place, cervical cancer is one of the most successfully treatable forms of cancer. Each year, India records about 1.25 lakh cervical cancer cases and approximately 75,000 deaths, accounting for nearly one-fifth of the global burden of this disease.
Understanding HPV Strains
Persistent infections with certain high-risk HPV strains lead to around 85% of all cervical cancers. Researchers have identified at least 14 HPV types with oncogenic properties, meaning they have the potential to cause cancer. Among these, HPV types 16 and 18, regarded as the most oncogenic, are responsible for approximately 70% of all cervical cancer cases worldwide.
Insight into ‘Mission Indradhanush’
The Indian government launched ‘Mission Indradhanush’ with an aim to immunize children and pregnant women. The initiative, which started on December 25, 2014, by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, was designed to reach all unvaccinated or partially vaccinated children by 2020, protecting them against seven vaccine-preventable diseases. These include diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles, and hepatitis B. WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International, and other donor partners provide technical support for this mission.
