Rithu Dravid | NT

Bengaluru

Medical experts in the city have hailed the Serum Institute of India’s (SII) announcement that it has developed the country’s first cervical cancer shot. This vaccine would prevent Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a major cause for cervical cancers.

 “The incidents of the HPV virus that causes cervical cancer is more among people of poor socio-economic status, poor hygienic conditions. It is most common in those who are immuno supressed with HIV infections and people with multiple sexual partners. The cervical cancer vaccine is one of the most revolutionary vaccines developed as it is the only vaccine that can help prevent the cancer from occurring,” says Dr Nitin Yashas Murthy, Consultant Medical and Hemato Oncologist, Manipal Hospital, Bengaluru.

 He further explained that it is not a vaccine against cancer, but prevents HPV infection, which causes approximately 90% of cervical cancer. These vaccines help protect people against developing pre-cancerous pathological lesions caused by the virus, he added.

 Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally, with an estimated 6,04,000 new cases and 3,42,000 deaths in 2020, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The current estimates indicate that every year approximately 1.25 lakh women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and over 75,000 die from the disease in India.

Doctors claim that the majority of new cases and deaths worldwide occur in low and middle-income groups. They say the Indian vaccines will help women in India and across the globe in a major way as they will be much more affordable than those currently available in the market. Moreover, SII also happens to be the world’s biggest vaccine maker, and hence has the wherewithal to manufacture them in a large scale.

 “If detected early, cervical cancer is curable through surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Awareness of vaccines, vaginal hygiene, limiting sexual partners and using safe sexual methods during intercourse will reduce associated venereal diseases, HIV, AIDS and also reduce the risk of cervical cancer,” said Dr LK Rajeev, Medical Oncologist, KIDWAI Memorial Institute of Oncology Cancer Research and Training Centre.

 Use of sanitary pads, educating students about high-risk sexual behaviour and administration of vaccines will help lower cervical cancer cases in the country. Currently, the cervical cancer vaccines available in India cost between Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,500 per dose. SII CEO Adar Poonawala has said that the price of the newly-developed cervical vaccination will be between Rs 200 and Rs 400. The vaccines will be made available soon, he claimed.