India’s first vaccine for cervical cancer ready

India’s first indigenously developed quadrivalent Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine for cervical cancer prevention will be launched in a few months. On Thursday, Union Minister of State of Science & Technology Jitendra Singh announced the scientific completion of the vaccine.

This means that research and development related to the vaccine are complete and now the next step of making them available to the public would take place. Speaking at the event, Singh said COVID-19 has



raised awareness about preventive healthcare leading to the development of vaccines like the one against cervical cancer.

Meanwhile, CEO of the Serum Institute of India (SII) Adar Poonawalla, who was also present, told reporters on the sidelines of the event, “The cervical cancer vaccine will be affordable and would be available in the range of Rs 200-400. However, the final price is yet to be decided”. Moreover, Poonawalla said the vaccine will be possibly launched by the end of the year.