Union minister to launch Indian-made cervical cancer vaccine on Sep 1

New Delhi: On September 1, according to official sources, the Serum Institute of India (SII) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) will introduce India's first locally made quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine (qHPV) against cervical cancer.

Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, will introduce the much-anticipated vaccination on Thursday.

Dr N. K. Arora, the COVID working group's chair, the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI), described the debut of an Indian-made vaccine as an exhilarating experience, ANI reported.

"It is very exciting and I must say it makes us very happy that our daughters and granddaughters will now be able to get this much-awaited vaccine."

"In fact, this is one of the last major vaccines to be introduced. In fact, this is one of the last vaccines that will be launched in the programme. Now, Indian vaccines will be available and we hope that it will be launched in the National Immunisation programme for 9-14-year-old girls," he added.

"It is very effective and prevents cervical cancer because, 85 per cent to 90 per cent cases, cervical cancer is because of this particular virus and this vaccine is against those viruses. So, if we give it to our young children and daughters, they are protected from the infection and consequently probably 30 years later, cancer does not occur," Dr Arora further explained.

"There was a shortage in the global market. Now the Indian vaccine has come. So, we will be able to take care of our requirements within our made-in-India vaccine," he said.