India Delays Indigenously Developed HPV Vaccine Inclusion in Immunisation Progr…
The World Health Organization's relaxed dosage guidelines and availability of free Gardasil-4 doses have postponed the inclusion of Cervavac, an indigenously developed HPV vaccine, in India's Universal Immunisation Programme. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a campaign on February 28 to vaccinate 1.15 crore girls with Gardasil-4, which has been available in India since 2009. In 2023, India received a US$250 million grant from GAVI to support HPV vaccine introduction. Despite plans for a global tender for 16.02 crore doses in April 2023, no such tender was issued. An ongoing study by the Indian Council of Medical Research is evaluating the efficacy of a single dose of Cervavac, with results expected in 2027. Cervical cancer remains a significant health issue in India, with approximately 80,000 new cases and over 42,000 deaths annually.
Published 1 day ago • 05 Mar 2026, 03:42 PM IST