Serum's HPV vaccine to be included in immunisation programme after 2027, Pg7

Key Highlights:

• The Serum Institute of India's (SII) Cervavac Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is expected to be included in India's national immunization program after 2027.
• This inclusion is contingent on the results of ongoing trials assessing the efficacy of a single dose of Cervavac.
• The Department of Biotechnology is supporting the development and trials of Cervavac.
• India's Health Ministry initiated an HPV vaccination campaign earlier this year for 14-year-old girls using MSD's Gardasil vaccine.
• GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) has supplied approximately 2.6 crore doses of HPV vaccine to India.

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Detailed Insights:

• Cervavac was initially developed as a two-dose vaccine, but trials are underway to establish the efficacy of a single dose, which is crucial for its inclusion in the national program.
• The current study, involving the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), compares the antibody levels generated by single doses of Cervavac and Gardasil in 504 girls over two years.
• Cervical cancer, primarily caused by persistent HPV infection, is the second most common cancer among women in India, affecting about 1.25 lakh women and causing 75,000 deaths annually.
• The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI), India's apex advisory body on immunization, had previously recommended HPV vaccination in 2017 and 2022.
• NTAGI had recommended the indigenous vaccine as a two-dose regimen, pending further studies on single-dose efficacy.
• The current national campaign targets approximately 1.15 crore girls who turn 14 each year, with existing vaccine stocks sufficient for the current and next year.
• GAVI is a public-private global health partnership that supports increased access to immunization in developing countries, and India has partnered with it since 2001.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV): A common group of viruses, certain types of which can cause cervical cancer and other cancers.
• Cervical Cancer: A type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina, primarily caused by HPV infection.
• National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI): The highest advisory body in India providing recommendations on vaccine introduction and immunization policies.
• GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation): A global health partnership that aims to increase access to immunization in low-income countries.