India’s transfer to introduce a nationwide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme, for women aged 14, strikes a strident word for science at a time when an anti-vaccination sentiment has perilously picked up beneficial winds, globally. The influence of shunning vaccines is obvious within the United States the place, presently, a measles epidemic is making its means throughout 26 States. The HPV vaccination might be performed solely at designated authorities well being services, and within the presence of educated medical officers, supported by expert health-care groups geared up for post-vaccination remark and administration of antagonistic occasions following immunisation (AEFI). A single-dose vaccine, a routine beneficial by the World Health Organization, might be deployed. Adequate proof exists to point out that the majority instances of cervical most cancers are attributable to persistent an infection with high-risk sorts of HPV, notably 16 and 18. These two varieties collectively account for greater than 80% of cervical most cancers instances in India. Evidence additionally factors to the truth that cervical most cancers is basically preventable via HPV vaccination and common screening, and will be cured if detected early and handled promptly. Globally, over 90 international locations are implementing single-dose HPV vaccination schedules. Several international locations have demonstrated substantial reductions in HPV an infection, pre-cancerous lesions, and cervical most cancers incidence following widespread vaccination. Cervical most cancers stays a uncommon most cancers the place a vaccine has confirmed to be of nice preventive worth.
The sheer burden of cervical most cancers in India is what makes this choice a important life-saving intervention: The South-East Asia Region (SEARO) accounts for the second-highest cervical most cancers incident (new instances) and dying charge amongst WHO areas, with India contributing over 65% of the burden. The second commonest most cancers in ladies in India, it was estimated that the nation had 127,526 new instances and 79,906 deaths from cervical most cancers in 2022. National screening protection stays alarmingly low, with just one.9% of ladies aged 30-49 being examined. However, India’s darkish previous with an HPV vaccine trial can’t be forgotten. Seven women who have been a part of a trial in 2009-10 in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat died. An ICMR investigation averred that the explanations “were most probably unrelated to the vaccine. However, the cause of death in all the cases cannot be established with certainty”. It additionally flagged, as a key concern, the necessity to establish and examine all AEFI. As the federal government embarks on this train that might result in many well being good points, it’s going to do properly to make sure a working chilly chain to retailer the vaccines, full transparency, and meticulous reporting of AEFI throughout the nation.
Published – February 26, 2026 12:20 am IST
