Vaccine against cancer for Sikkim girls

RAJEEV RAVIDAS, TT,  Jul 31, 2018  Gangtok: The Sikkim government on Monday started a state-wide campaign to vaccinate all girl children aged between nine and 14 against human papilloma virus (HPV) that causes cervical cancer, thus becoming the first state in the country to do so.

About 32,000 girls will be administered the vaccine free of cost over the next two weeks.

To ensure complete protection, the girls will be given second dose of the vaccine after six months.

"We are the first state in the country to carry out the HPV vaccination drive in the entire state. Punjab is the other state which has undertaken the vaccination drive, but it has only covered two districts," said Vishal Chauhan, the Sikkim health secretary.

The programme is being implemented by the Sikkim department of healthcare, human services and family welfare with the support of the World Health Organisation and United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef).

"The market price of one dose of vaccine is Rs 3,000, but the Unicef is providing us with the vaccine at only Rs 400 per dose. The government, in turn, is administering the vaccine to the girls aged between nine and 14 free of cost," said Chauhan.

HPV infection causes cervical cancer, which is considered to be one of the most common causes of cancer death for women.

People get HPV from another person during intimate sexual contact.

"The recommended age for administering the vaccine is between nine and 14. We have decided to vaccinate only the girls because cervical vaginal cancer is more common than penile. This is being done as part of our routine immunisation schedule for girls," said the health secretary.