Cervical Cancer HPV Vaccine news: Dr. Dilip Kumar Acharya, National Chairman of the Cancer Prevention and Tobacco Control Committee in the Indian Medical Association, has made an emotional appeal to the parents across the country, calling the decision of the Health Ministry an excellent one. He told all the parents to take advantage of this vaccination drive being run to protect their daughters from cervical cancer and take their daughters to nearby centers where HPV vaccine is being administered.

The Health Ministry is providing HPV vaccination to all girls between the age of 14 to 15 years across the country to prevent cervical cancer. In this initiative, about 1.15 crore eligible girls are being given free cervical cancer vaccine. Dr. Acharya said that this visionary step is a revolutionary milestone in the field of women’s healthcare. IMA National President Dr. Anil Kumar J Nayak and General Secretary Dr. Sarbari Dutta have also written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Health Minister JP Nadda thanking them for this.

1. Takes the lives of 87 thousand women
   Appealing to the parents, Dr. Acharya said that cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in India, causing about 87,000 deaths every year and affecting about 1.39 lakh women. By including the HPV vaccine in the national immunization programme, India joins more than 160 countries in the global mission to eliminate this preventable disease.
2. Security will be 90 percent
   Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer and vaccination against it can prevent about 80-90% of future cervical cancer. In the countries where cervical cancer vaccine is being administered, the cases of this cancer have decreased.
3. Why is the vaccine being given only after 14 years?
   Dr. Acharya further said that the HPV vaccine is highly effective in preventing the types of HPV that are responsible for most cases of cervical cancer. Vaccinating girls before they are potentially exposed to the virus at age 14 ensures the strongest and longest-lasting immune response. This vaccine has a proven safety record and has been administered globally since 2006. In line with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, India’s single-dose vaccination system simplifies the process for families while also providing strong protection.

He said that all the eligible parents and guardians of girls who are 14 years old or who are going to turn 15 within the prescribed 90 days are humbly requested to go to their nearest government health center and get their daughters vaccinated. This initiative is a protective shield for our daughters, ensuring a cervical cancer free future for the coming generation of Indian women.