India’s affordable cervical cancer vaccine offers fresh hope in the fight against the disease.
Cervical cancer kills a woman every seven minutes in India. An entirely preventable disease, it is the second most common cancer among women in the country, claiming over 75,000 lives annually. Vaccination against the HPV virus, which causes the majority of cervical cancers, is a highly effective prevention method.
However, the steep cost of existing vaccines kept it out of reach for many low and middle-income nations.
India’s indigenously developed Cervavac, launched last year at half the price of other options, has the potential to change this. With plans to produce 200 million doses and make it available at even lower cost soon, it can revolutionise cervical cancer prevention.
Along with increased screening, the vaccine’s inclusion in public immunisation programs following government commitment is significant for women’s health.
Earlier, controversies around safety and perceived notions delayed the adoption of foreign HPV vaccines here despite their efficacy. Initial studies show Cervavac triggers comparable immune responses, but long-term impact needs monitoring.
As production scales up, addressing barriers like awareness and safety concerns will be crucial to fulfill India’s dream of eliminating cervical cancer and saving thousands of lives, like Australia is on track to achieve.
Continued innovation, access expansion and cross-sectoral efforts are imperative to make screening and vaccination universal for all women worldwide.
