Cervical Cancer : Is Vaccination Necessary in India?

Abstract

In India, cervical cancer is the most common woman-related cancer, followed by breast cancer. The rateof cervical cancer in India is fourth worldwide. Two vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix, both targeting HPV-16and 18 which account for 70% of invasive cervical carcinomas, are licensed in the United States and numerouscountries worldwide. Both vaccine formulations have shown excellent efficacy with minimal toxicity in activefemale population but numerous questions arise in vaccinating like cost effectiveness, lack of proven efficacyagainst other HPV strains, social acceptance of HPV vaccination and other ethical issues. The main objective ofthis study is to emphasis the advantages and disadvantages of the vaccination in India.