Not many takers for HPV vaccine at PGI

Launched in 2023 to prevent cervical cancer, India's first indigenous human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine—Cervavac—has found only 63 takers in the 18-25 age group at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER).

- Priyanka Thakur

CHANDIGARH:

Cervavac was developed by Serum Institute Of India (SII) in collaboration with central government's department of biotechnology (DBT) and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), along with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Sharing data, doctors at PGIMER's gynaecological department and Advance Paediatric Centre attributed the low uptake to lack of awareness, the vaccine's hefty price tag and the fact that the vaccine is not included in the national immunisation programme. As the vaccine is not included in the programme, its ₹1,500-2,000 cost is to be borne entirely by the taker.

Compared to this domestically cultivated vaccine, foreign manufactured vaccines cost ₹4,000-9,000.