Is the cervical cancer vaccine available?

The central government is set to make a historic decision in the 2025 budget to protect women from cervical cancer. The Ministry of Health is working to include this cancer under the National Immunization Program. It is expected that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will announce this initiative in Parliament as part of the upcoming budget. Last year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had mentioned that the central government would focus on a cervical cancer vaccination program. Currently, cervical cancer is a major issue affecting many women, and the lack of awareness has led to many young students and women losing their lives to this cancer. In this context, the central government is expected to take a crucial step.

Free Vaccine: Currently, the cervical cancer vaccine is available only in private hospitals, with each dose costing around ₹4000. However, it is expected that the central government will make this vaccine available for free to students and women. The government is also likely to allocate special funds for this vaccine program in the 2025 budget. The vaccine is expected to be integrated into the National Immunization Program, which currently provides vaccines for children, to make it accessible to students and women.

HPV Vaccine: Cervical cancer, or cancer of the cervix, is widespread in the country and is caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). It takes about 15-20 years for this virus to develop into cancer once it enters the body. The disease can be contracted due to factors such as having multiple sexual partners, heredity, excessive use of birth control pills, smoking, and other reasons.

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