6 Things U Must Know About the Cervical Cancer Vaccine and it's Availability in India.
FROM THE GROUP--DIARY OF THE MOMMY
1.Cervical cancer, mainly caused by Human Papillomavirus infection, is one of the leading cancers in Indian women. Cervical cancer kills roughly 67,477 Indian women annually. The two HPV vaccines currently available in India are bivalent (Cervarix, Rs 2190 per dose) and quadrivalent (Gardasil, Rs 3000 per dose.) The Nonavalent, which is considered to be the most effective in the West, is extremely expensive and currently not available in India as it is still not approved by Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).
2. Of more than 100 HPV types, about 15 are found to be high risk. HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for 82%of cervical cancers in India.
The World Health Organization recommends the vaccine for all girls between 9 and 13 years, because the vaccine is highly immunogenic at this age. Only two doses of the vaccine administered at a 6 to 12 month interval are enough to protect girls under 15 years of age. Girls/women 15 years of age and older, as well as those who are immuno-compromised, e.g., living with HIV, require 3 doses.
3. Women up to the age of 26 can take the vaccine. For women over this age, obtaining the vaccination is an expensive decision simply because the immune reaction to the vaccine will not be strong. "Several studies show that women up to the age of 26 can take the vaccination, as the immune reaction is strong till this age. However, if you are a sexually active woman, who has already been exposed to the streaks of virus that the vaccine targets, then it won't help you even if you are under 26 years of age,
4.The HPV Vaccine is safe and does not cause side effects. Studies of post-HPV vaccination patients has shown no increase in chronic diseases, autoimmune disorders or neurological disorders. More than 200 million vaccinations have been administered in over 80 countries to date, with no data supporting serious long-term side effects.
5. The vaccine has not been linked to infertility. "The recently published results of a study from India that administered approximately 35,000 doses in girls 10-18 years of age with a 4-year follow up reported no serious adverse events attributable to the HPV vaccine," she adds. Health professionals don't believe there is any link between infertility and use of the vaccine.
6.Don't look for the vaccine at government hospitals. Most state hospitals don't currently stock the HPV vaccine, so if you want to get vaccinated you're better off visiting a private hospital or a gynaecologist's clinic. In some cases, clinics will only order in the vaccine if you call and make an appointment, so check ahead of time.
FROM THE GROUP--DIARY OF THE MOMMY
1.Cervical cancer, mainly caused by Human Papillomavirus infection, is one of the leading cancers in Indian women. Cervical cancer kills roughly 67,477 Indian women annually. The two HPV vaccines currently available in India are bivalent (Cervarix, Rs 2190 per dose) and quadrivalent (Gardasil, Rs 3000 per dose.) The Nonavalent, which is considered to be the most effective in the West, is extremely expensive and currently not available in India as it is still not approved by Drug Controller General of India (DCGI).
2. Of more than 100 HPV types, about 15 are found to be high risk. HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for 82%of cervical cancers in India.
The World Health Organization recommends the vaccine for all girls between 9 and 13 years, because the vaccine is highly immunogenic at this age. Only two doses of the vaccine administered at a 6 to 12 month interval are enough to protect girls under 15 years of age. Girls/women 15 years of age and older, as well as those who are immuno-compromised, e.g., living with HIV, require 3 doses.
3. Women up to the age of 26 can take the vaccine. For women over this age, obtaining the vaccination is an expensive decision simply because the immune reaction to the vaccine will not be strong. "Several studies show that women up to the age of 26 can take the vaccination, as the immune reaction is strong till this age. However, if you are a sexually active woman, who has already been exposed to the streaks of virus that the vaccine targets, then it won't help you even if you are under 26 years of age,
4.The HPV Vaccine is safe and does not cause side effects. Studies of post-HPV vaccination patients has shown no increase in chronic diseases, autoimmune disorders or neurological disorders. More than 200 million vaccinations have been administered in over 80 countries to date, with no data supporting serious long-term side effects.
5. The vaccine has not been linked to infertility. "The recently published results of a study from India that administered approximately 35,000 doses in girls 10-18 years of age with a 4-year follow up reported no serious adverse events attributable to the HPV vaccine," she adds. Health professionals don't believe there is any link between infertility and use of the vaccine.
6.Don't look for the vaccine at government hospitals. Most state hospitals don't currently stock the HPV vaccine, so if you want to get vaccinated you're better off visiting a private hospital or a gynaecologist's clinic. In some cases, clinics will only order in the vaccine if you call and make an appointment, so check ahead of time.
Neha Sharma
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06 Jul 2017