Union Minister of State (Independent Representative) for Science and Technology; Minister of State (Independent Representative) for Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh announces India’s first indigenously developed vaccine, ‘CERVAVAC‘ to prevent cervical cancer. Announcing the scientific completion of quadrivalent human papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccine in the presence of Mr. Adar C. Poonawalla, Director General, Serum Institute of India, Pune and other eminent scientists and dignitaries, Dr Jitendra Singh said, this affordable and cost-effective vaccine is for DBT and BIRAC an important day as it takes India a step closer to Prime Minister Modi’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Dr. Jitendra Singh pointed out that cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer in India and accounts for nearly one-fourth of the world’s cervical cancer deaths, despite being largely preventable. He said that current estimates indicate that every year around 1.25 lakh women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and more than 75 thousand die from the disease in India and 83% of invasive cervical cancers in India are attributed to HPV 16 or 18 and 70% of cases worldwide. The minister said the most promising intervention for cervical cancer prevention is human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. HPV types 16 and 18 (HPV-16 and HPV-18) together are estimated to contribute to approximately 70% of all cases of invasive cervical cancer worldwide.
Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that COVID has awakened us to the virtues of preventive healthcare, especially in a society like India, which has less awareness of preventive Medicare due to various socio-economic factors. He said that through schemes like Ayushman, which enabled the poor, lower strata and vulnerable population to indulge in the luxury of preventive medicine and preventive health care by getting insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh.
Referring to Modi’s visit to Zydus Biotech Park in Ahmedabad, Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad and Serum Institute of India in Pune in November 2020 to personally review the development and manufacturing process of the Covid vaccine, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Prime Minister then emphasized that “India considers vaccines not only as vital for good health but also for the global good, and it is India’s duty to help other countries, including nations in our neighbourhood, to collectively fight the virus.
Dr Jitendra Singh pointed out that within one year of the implementation of the Covid Suraksha mission, it has shown significant achievements such as (i) Development of the world’s first DNA vaccine for COVID-19 by Cadila Healthcare, which received emergency use authorization on 20 August 2021 and (ii) Support the development of the first national mRNA vaccine and intranasal vaccine candidate against COVID-19. He said that ‘CERVAVAC’ is a result of DBT and BIRAC’s partnership with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, supported by Serum Institute of India Private Limited for indigenous development of quadrivalent vaccine through its partnership program ‘Grand Challenges India’. He said academia, industry and research should become equal partners in the true spirit of an integrated approach for result-oriented products.
The Minister said that the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) has made strenuous efforts in the last three decades to strengthen Indian vaccine research and development. He added that a number of key initiatives are currently underway to support basic and translational vaccine research, including (i) Indo-US Vaccine Action Programme, (ii) National Biopharma Mission, (iii) Ind-CEPI Mission and (iv) Launched as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat 3.0, the COVID Suraksha Mission aims to bring safe, effective, affordable and accessible original COVID 19 vaccines to the citizens of the country as soon as possible.
Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, DBT Secretary, said it was a celebration of the collective efforts of all stakeholders, adding that partnerships with industries are becoming incredibly important for R&D, which requires huge funding. He said that India will take the lead in developing vaccines and medicine by breaking all barriers for the betterment of humanity. Dr N. Kalaiselvi, DG, CSIR said in her speech that the cancer vaccine will help Indian women and women across the world in a significant way and that we may see version 1, 2 and 3 of ‘CERVAVAC’ in the near future as the technologies are short lived. She said, “India can do it,” adding that we will come up with Indian solutions to Indian problems in the true spirit of Atmanirbharta. Mr. Adar C. Poonawalla, CEO, Serum Institute of India, Pune in his short speech said that the welfare and protection of mother and child is the core philosophy of Serum Institute as only a healthy India can be a productive India. He also supported DBT’s vision for greater collaboration between the private and government sectors in manufacturing vaccines and medicines in India.
