Suhana from India, Anashe from Zimbabwe, Zahra from Oman, Aayla from Jamaica, and Afaafa from Kenya – do you know what is common in them? They all were recently diagnosed with cervical cancer. Suhana and Zahra had to undergo a Loop electrosurgical excision procedure, Afaafa underwent a Radical trachelectomy, Aayla had to undergo a laparoscopic Hysterectomy, and Anashe had to undergo radiation therapy to treat cervical cancer.
Could this have been avoided? Before 2006 – nope; today’s times – yes! The cervical cancer vaccine or HPV vaccine, is widely available and has also become a part of many countries’ immunization programmes. HPV vaccine is one of its kind in preventive measures to fight cancer.
Also, yes, a vaccine for cervical cancer is available in India.
To delve deeply into this topic, we asked two experts – Dr Anil Thakwani, Director of Oncology Department at Sharda Hospitals and Dr Shubham Garg, Senior surgical oncologist at Fortis Hospitals – to shed some light on this topic.
Is Vaccine For Cervical Cancer Available?
Yes, a vaccine for cervical cancer is available in India. According to our experts, three HPV vaccines are available in India, namely:
- Gardasil (Gardasil 4 and Gardasil Nano)
- Cervarix
- Cervavac
| Vaccine | Manufacturer | HPV Types Protected | Recommended Age | Dosing Schedule | Cost per Dose (Rs) |
| Cervarix | GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) | 16, 18, cross-reactive | 10-45 years | 2 doses (6-12 months apart) | 2,200-2,600 |
| Gardasil 4 | MSD (Merck) | 6, 11, 16, 18 | 9-45 years | 2 or 3 doses (0-6 months or 0, 2, and 6 months) | 3,500-4,000 |
| Gardasil 9 | MSD (Merck) | 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58 | 9-45 years for females; 9-15 years for males | 2 or 3 doses (0, 6, or 12 months for females; 0, 2, and 6 months for males) | 9,000-10,000 |
| Cervavac | Serum Institute of India (SII) & Union Govt’s Department of Biotechnology | 6, 11, 16, 18 | 9-26 years | 2 doses (9-14 years) or 3 doses (15-26 years) | 2,000 |
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Gardasil 4 by MSD, launched in India in 2009, targets HPV types 16, 18, 6, and 11. It’s recommended for women aged 9-45, with a 2- or 3-dose schedule at 0-6 month intervals or 0, 2, and 6 months. Each dose costs Rs 3,500-4,000.
Gardasil 9 or Gardasil Nano, effective against nine HPV strains (types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58), is the first gender-neutral HPV vaccine. Recommended for females aged 9-45, it prevents various cancers caused by HPV. Males aged 9-15 receive protection from precancerous lesions and genital warts. It’s administered in a 2-dose (0, 6, or 12 months) or 3-dose (0, 2, and 6 months) schedule. Each dose costs Rs 9,000-10,000, making it the country’s most expensive cervical cancer vaccine.
Cervarix from GSK prevents HPV infections caused by types 16 and 18, which are responsible for about 70% of cervical cancer cases despite there being 14 HPV types linked to the cancer. Additionally, clinical trials have demonstrated cross-reactive protection against HPV strains 45 and 31. Cervarix contains Adjuvant System 04 (AS04), enhancing immune response for prolonged efficacy. Available in India since 2008, Cervarix is recommended for females aged 10 to 45, administered in two doses 6-12 months apart, with each dose priced between Rs 2,200-2,600.
Cervavac, an indigenous cervical cancer vaccine developed by the central government and SII, has been available in India since last year. It’s a quadrivalent vaccine, effective against four HPV types: 6, 11, 16, and 18.
It’s prescribed for women aged 9 to 26. Girls aged 9 to 14 are recommended a 2-dose schedule (at 0 and 6 months), while those aged 15 to 26 are prescribed a 3-dose schedule (at 0, 2, and 6 months). Each dose costs Rs 2,000.
What Is The Best Age To Get Vaccinated?
According to our experts, the best age to get the cervical cancer vaccine is between 09 and 14 years. The immune response in pre-teens is higher, the efficacy is increased due to no prior exposure to sexual activity, and it is more cost-effective due to fewer doses. Adding to this, it is also suggested that even boys should take the vaccine to avoid precancerous or dysplastic lesions and genital warts.
HPV vaccine has become a part of many immunization programmes, with WHO marking it under essential medicines. According to both Dr Anil Thakwani and Dr Shubham Garg, the administration of cervical cancer vaccine is the need of the hour. Just a simple vaccine can go a long way in reducing the burden on our country’s healthcare system.
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About Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer begins when healthy cells on the surface of the cervix change or become infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) and grow out of control, forming a mass called a tumour. Long-term infection of HPV on the cervix can result in cancer, leading to a mass or tumour on the cervix.
HPV is a sexually transmitted infection that can cause several types of cancer, including anal, cervical, oropharyngeal, penile, vaginal, and vulvar.
A tumour can be cancerous or benign. A cancerous tumour is malignant and can spread to other body parts. A benign tumour means the tumour will not spread.
Around 662,301 are affected with Cervical uteri cancer every year. In India alone, the number touched 127,526 in 2022. Compared to the numbers, the immunization rate has been prolonged. In India, cervical cancer immunization has been just 0.6%. Surprisingly, the percentage touches 31% in the African continent.
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Contact GoMedii to get your queries resolved by our team of medical experts. You can also reach out to us to apply for a medical visa.
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