HPV vaccine launched in Delhi schools | Fusion - WeRIndia

Delhi has launched the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as a public health program for school children. Delhi is the first state in the country to do so. Satyendar Jain, the Health Minister stated that in the first year, the target of this program will be girls studying Class VI in government schools. This target will be completed in this academic year in two phases.

The program gives HPV vaccine which is helpful in protecting people against 150 odd HPVs. Some of the HPVs are known to cause cervical cancer.

Mr Jain spoke about this topic at the international workshop for cancer awareness, prevention, screening and early detection for SAARC nations. He said that the first phase of this vaccine program will begin in the next three to four months. He said that only class VI girl students are targeted this year. In the next year, the target will be all girls who are between the age of 9 and 13. Jain said with confidence that cervical cancer will be eradicated from Delhi first in India.

As part of the vaccine program, the children will be given two doses of vaccine. There will be a gap of 30 days between the first and second doses of the vaccine. Furthermore, there will be a third booster dose given to the children 240 days after the first vaccine. It is covered in the next phase.

According to reports, the Center is considering introducing the vaccine under universal immunization program. However, there has been no announcement regarding it.

The minister also said that in the first phase the program will target 1-1.5 lakh girls. He said that the program has many logistics which need to be considered to make it work successfully. This is the reason the program is being launched only in government schools for now. After the first year, the program will also cover private schools and target a wider age group.

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