Which vaccine used for the prevention of cervical cancer?

Solution-

• Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.
• The HPV vaccine is highly effective for the prevention of HPV serotypes 16 and 18, which cause 70% of cervical cancers.
• SAGE recommends updating the dosing schedule for HPV as follows:
  • one or two dosing schedules for the primary target of girls aged 9-14
  • one- or two-dose schedule for young women 15–20 years of age
  • Two doses with an interval of 6 months for women over 21 years of age.

Important Points

• It is used to prevent diseases caused by HPV types 16 and 18. It is used not only for prevention but also for not treating diseases caused by a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV).
• Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (qHPV), India's first indigenous vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer, will be launched in a few months and made available to the public at an affordable cost of Rs 200-400.
• Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh participated in an event organized to announce the scientific completion of the vaccine on September 1, 2022.
• Cervical cancer is increasing rapidly in India, being the second most frequent cancer among women aged 15 to 44 years.