Scientists from the Serum Institute have developed a cheaper vaccine to combat cervical cancer. They hope with it to reduce the incidence of the second most common cancer in the country, and achieve a global reach.
The Government of India recently announced that it will start a nationwide immunization campaign for girls aged ages 9 to 14 using a new human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinethe main cause of cervical-uterine cancer and possibly responsible for other types of cancer.
According to the World Health Organization (OMS), 4.1 million women have died in India from this disease since 2019.
In this scenario, preventive vaccination is essential to reduce the incidence rate of this cancer. “We have prepared a proper roadmap and a social mobilization strategy. Our experience with the coronavirus vaccine program has helped us a lot”tells DW NK Arora, head of the Immunizations Technical Advisory Group.
The quadrivalent vaccine -offers protection against four strains of HPV- is called “Cervavac” and was developed by the Serum Institute of India. Currently the second most populous country on the planet depends entirely on foreign manufacturers to supply these vaccineswhich are expensive.
However, after obtaining good results with its own formula and being approved by the General Comptroller of Medicines, the country can now expand its coverage.
Effective and cheaper vaccines
HPV is a sexually transmitted virus and affects genitals, mouth and throat. Apart from treating the symptoms, little else can be done against it, so prevention is especially important.
Although HPV vaccines have been available in India since 2008, attempts to establish a national vaccination program have stalled, mainly due to unfounded fears about alleged side effectsin addition to the difficulties in accessing the vaccine, according to the medical publication Lancet.
Cervavac production started at the end of 2022 and will be available at a value of between 2.2 and 4.5 euros per dose. The Serum Institute hopes to produce some 200 million doses in two years. Clinical trials were carried out in ten health centers throughout the country, with very good results.
“First we will use it in Indian citizens and then it will be a global vaccine. We have made it for all the women in the world. It’s very important for women’s safety and health,” Adar Poonawalla, chief executive of the Serum Institute, which is the world’s largest vaccine producer, told DW.
Among others, it produces inoculants against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, and rubellaselling more than 1.5 billion doses around the world at affordable prices.
Community prevention against cervical cancer
Public health experts maintain that the central pillar of the fight against cervical cancer is prevention. That is why national screening programs are essential. And with less than 10 per cent of women in India having been tested, it is clear that much remains to be done.
“In primary and community health centers, staff should be trained to detect this type of cancer,” said Sarojini Nadimpally, a public health expert.
“It is important to analyze the health care infrastructure, including the human resources of those centerswho lack the necessary personnel to carry out an evaluation on the disease”, he added.
The Government explained that girls who do not attend school will be vaccinated through mobile health teams. The Indian vaccine is expected to be a game-changer, succeeding in reducing the incidence of this type of cancer at a much lower financial cost than is currently paid by the Indian government.
“Associating the strategy with public-private groups can expand coverage to around 50 million girls between the ages of 9 and 14. Raising awareness about the disease can also help improve the acceptability of the vaccine,” said Giridhara Babu, an epidemiologist at the Public Health Foundation of India.
“We also need early detection programs for the disease”sentenced.
