India’s first indigenous Cervical cancer vaccine to cost over 50% cheaper than what’s available in market
India has received a homemade cervical cancer vaccine that is estimated to be more than 50 percent lower than what is available in the market today. The Serum Institute vaccine manufacturer in collaboration with the Biotek Department of the Government has developed a vaccine to protect against the Human Papilloma or HPV virus, a virus that can cause cervical cancer. This will be India’s first native vaccine for cervical cancer. While GSK has stopped their cervical cancer vaccine in India – Gardasil by MSD is available but with a price of more than 3000 per dose in the private market but is available at a cheaper level for government procurement. Serum vaccine called Cervavac is expected to be respected between RS 200-400 per dose. This vaccine is expected to be available in a few months.
To understand what the vaccine is doing, we need to understand a little more above the Human Papilloma or HPV virus. HPV, which is a virus has many strains and symptoms you depend on the tension you are affected.
HPV, which is mostly contracted through sexual contact, causes genital warts and practice lesions for men and women. Some of these HPV strains are related to many cancer and are most commonly related to cervical cancer in women.
While every person infected with HPV does not always get symptoms with viruses many times just like that, but when HPV does not disappear, it can cause health problems such as genital warts and cancer. What the vaccine does is protect against this HPV virus. Vaccines basically create antibodies to strains that are most likely related to causing cancer. For example, Cervavac protects against cancer which causes HPV type 16 & 18 which is responsible for around 83 percent of cases of cervical cancer in India and Type 6 & 11 which causes 90 percent of genital warts.
A little more about cervical cancer
Surprisingly cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India. In fact, which estimates that India bears one fifth of the burden of world cervical cancer. The country currently has 483.5 million women aged 15to 44 years who can ultimately risk developing cervical cancer. Some reasons for the high burden of cervical cancer in this country include lack of awareness so that low screening such as regular pap smear tests and factors such as early marriage, many children, poor cleanliness and pre-existence of sexually transmitted diseases that are not treated.
Who can take the vaccine?
Vaccines can be taken by anyone from the age of 9 to 26 years. Yes, anyone. Both women and men meet the requirements to take the vaccine. Why Men? Men cannot get cervical cancer, but vaccines also protect against diseases other than cervical cancer that can affect men such as genital warts and certain cancers such as penis & anal, caused by HPV. More importantly, men need to take a vaccine to eventually protect their female partner from contracting the HPV virus.
Is it better to take the previous vaccine?
Ideally, vaccines should be given before someone starts sexual contact because it is a prevention vaccine against HPV infection which is mainly transmitted sexually.
Can anyone over the age of 26 years accept it? And who has sexual contact?
Experts say that ideally work is best for those who have not made their sexual debut. However, in countries like the US, vaccines have been licensed for use until the age of 45 for men and women. Likewise, in India due to the high incidence of cervical cancer some doctors recommend that women aged between 9-45 take vaccines. Finally, whatever age and whether men or women, need to consult your doctor about taking a vaccine. The most important point to remember is that at this time cervical cancer is cancer that can be prevented. And yes, while vaccines are important, doctors also recommend that it is necessary for women to do regular pap smears , a test to check to the cells in the cervix, that too should probably become mandatory say experts. Do ask your doctor today.
