KGH Superintendent Dr. I. Vani speaking at ‘Conquer HPV and Cancer Conclave 2025 in Visakhapatnam on Friday.
| Photo Credit: V. Raju

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-related disease, particularly cervical cancer, is the second highest cause of cancer among women in India.

Cervical cancer is preventable with timely vaccination and screening. Unfortunately, due to the lack of awareness, high vaccine cost and limited access, vaccination in India is very low at 1%, said doctors at the ‘Conquer HPV and Cancer Conclave 2025’ organised by Serum Institute of India, here, on Friday.

HPV vaccination is equally important for men too, as they can turn out to be silent carriers and transmit the disease to their sexual partner in later life, said the doctors.

Dr. I. Vani, Superintendent, King George Hospital (KGH); Dr. R. Vidya Rama, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Andhra Medical College (AMC); Dr. Sunanda Rani Gutta, Director and Chief Consultant Gyneacologist of Nikitha Hospital; Dr. Sai Sunil Kishore Manem, Chief Neonatologist, Medicover Hospital; Dr. Buddha Murali Santosh, Neonatologist and Paediatrician, Motherly Women and Children Hospital, Vizag, were among those who participated in the programme.

Dr. Vidya Rama and Dr. Sunanda Rani explained that the age group of 9 to 15 was the best time for the administration of HPV vaccine for both girls and boys. Though the earlier vaccine (imported) was available for over 15 years in India, the poor compliance could be attributed to the lack of awareness, high cost and other factors.

‘Indigenous vaccine’

Now, an indigenous vaccine (cervavac), brought out by Serum Institute of India, was available at a lower cost.

While HPV is commonly associated with cervical cancer in women, it also causes serious diseases in men, including penile cancer, oropharyngeal cancer and genital warts.

Unlike girls, for whom routine screening tests are available to detect early signs of HPV-related diseases, no such screening is available for men, hence prevention is crucial here, the doctors said.

Dr. Sunanda Rani said that another advantage of vaccination was that herd immunity would develop when the maximum number of people were administered with the vaccine.

She reminded of the slogan: ‘Do teeke zindagi ki’ (two vaccine doses for life) to create awareness on the need to take two doses of the vaccine for those in the target group.

‘Highly effective’

Dr. Vani said that the HPV vaccine was effective up to 98%. She hoped that with the indigenous vaccine and low cost, the vaccination rate would increase to at least 90%. She said that FOGSI (Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies of India) has appealed to the Government of India to make HPV vaccination a part of the universal immunisation programme and the government was said to be considering it.