Padmavati Prabhu
Panaji
In a bid to prevent cervical cancer, nearly 13,000 girls in the state will be administered the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in the next three months.
Chief medical officer in-charge of State Family Welfare Bureau (SFWB) Dr Utkarsh Betodkar clarified that the HPV vaccine neither affects fertility in women, nor does it influence the menstrual cycle in adolescent girls. “In fact, it helps protect fertility by preventing HPV infection that can cause cervical cancer,” he said.
Dr Betodkar said the HPV vaccination is voluntary and obtaining consent from parents or guardian is mandatory before taking the shot.
“The eligible beneficiaries (girls who have completed 14 years of age) in the state of Goa is 13,000, hence Goa has received 12,120 doses of HPV vaccine from the Government of India,” Dr Betodkar said.
With an estimated 78,499 new cases and 42,392 deaths reported in India in 2024 as per Indian Council of Medical Research-National Cancer Registry Programme (ICMR-NCRP) data, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Indian women, making it a significant public health concern.
“Cervical cancer is caused by HPV and it is the only cancer which can be prevented by a vaccine,” Dr Betodkar said, adding that HPV vaccine has been administered over 500 million times worldwide and it has been in the market since 2006.
“Studies show that HPV vaccines are highly effective and immunogenic, with 93-100% efficacy in preventing cervical cancer,” he said.
The national launch of HPV vaccination campaign was held on February 28. The launch in Goa was held on the same day at the South Goa District Hospital.
All girls aged 14 years across the country will be vaccinated with a single dose of Gardasil 4 vaccine free of cost at government health facilities (Ayushman Arogya Mandir-Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres, Sub-District/District Hospitals and Government Medical Colleges and Hospitals).
“These facilities have a Cold Chain Point (CCP) and a dedicated medical officer for the management of adverse events following immunisation. Vaccination will be undertaken over a three-month duration during which period the vaccine will be available every day to ensure that maximum eligible girls are vaccinated. Thereafter, the vaccine will be available at the same health facility on routine immunisation days,” Dr Betodkar said.
