India's call for HPV vaccination

A Bold Step towards a Cervical Cancer-free future

 India's interim union budget 2024-2025 has emerged as a beacon of hope, particularly in the realm of women's health. The Narendra Modi government's support in encouraging the vaccination of girls from 9 to 14 years against cervical cancer stands as pivotal move towards safeguarding women's well-being.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the main culprit in the development of cervical cancer. HPV vaccination is the comprehensive strategy for the disease prevention and health promotion.

WHO has outlined ' 90-7-90' targets by 2023- for 90% of girls to be fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by age 15, for 70% of women to undergo cervical cancer screening tests by age of 35 and 45, and for 90% of women with cervical cancer  to be treated. 

HPV vaccination success stories:

Scotland: Findings show that there have been no reported cases of cervical cancers among women born between 1988 and 1996 who received full HPV vaccination between the ages of 12 and 13. 

Austria: Initiated HPV vaccination for girls in 2007 and expanded to include boys in 2013, is poised to eliminate cervical cancer by 2035.

The Sikkim model

  • A robust communication strategy that educates and empowers communities is the key to success of any vaccination campaign.
  • Through targeted efforts to educate teachers, parents, girls health-care workers, and the media about the benefits of the HPV vaccine, Sikkim achieved vaccination coverage of 97% during its campaign rollout in 2018.
  • This rigorous efforts has not only dispelled myths and misconceptions but also fostered trust and confidence in the vaccination process.
India's recent milestone in developing its indigenous quadrivalent vaccine, "Cervavac", marks a significant stride towards ensuring accessibility. 
Developed by the Serum Institute of India in collaboration with Department of Biotechnology and priced at rupees 20000 a dose. 

It has been recognized that one dose of HPV vaccine provides similar protection to that provided by 2 or 3 doses.

CHALLENGES

  • Challenges persist, particularly in addressing vaccine hesitancy and ensuring equitable access to HPV vaccination.
  • To overcome these hurdles, concerted efforts are needed to engage communities, dispel misinformation, and strengthen health care infrastructure.
  • The interim budget also announced the rollout of U-WIN throughout the country.
  • U-WIN like Co-WIN that was designed to track the covid-19 vaccination campaign , is a portal that will maintain electronic registry of all immunizations across the country and enable vaccination programmes to be responsive in real time.
  • Vaccine hesitancy, fueled by myths and misinformation, poses a significant barrier to the acceptance of HPV vaccines across different regions. 
  • Cultural and social norms are also a factor, highlighting the importance of tailoring messages to resonate with diverse communities.
  • Utilizing diverse channels such as social media and community workshops can amplify reach.    


Thus, India's inclusion of HPV vaccination in the interim union budget 2024-2025 heralds a new era in women's health.




Reference,

The Hindu Newspaper. 

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