CERVAVAC

Why in news?

• Union Minister Science & Technology has launched India’s first indigenously developed vaccine, “CERVAVAC” for the prevention of cervical cancer.

What is CERVAVAC Vaccine?

• Cervavac is India’s first quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine (qHPV). It is intended to protect women against cervical cancer.
• The vaccine is based on VLP (virus-like particles), similar to the hepatitis B vaccine and provides protection by generating antibodies against the HPV virus’s L1 protein.
• Doses: Two vaccine doses are supposed to be administered to teenage girls before they are sexually active. For older individuals, three doses are recommended.
• This vaccine can prevent an infection, but cannot clear it once it happens.

About Cervical cancer

• Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix — the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina.
• Various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, play a role in causing most cervical cancer.
• Globally, Cervical Cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer among women in the world.
• In India, Cervical cancer ranks as the second-most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age.

PRACTICE QUESTION

UPSC 2022

In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements:

1. The Serum Institute of India produced COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield using mRNA platform.

2. Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using vector based platform.

3. COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen based vaccine.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer