Collaborative Procurement Efforts to Secure 40-50 Million HPV Vaccine Doses in India.
Serum Institute of India Expands Supply of Affordable HPV Vaccine. In a significant stride towards combating cervical cancer, the Serum Institute of India has announced plans to ramp up the production of its human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. This move comes as the institute gears up to provide its shots to the government at substantially reduced rates for an upcoming immunization campaign.
Led by CEO Adar Poonawalla, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer aims to integrate the HPV vaccine into the government’s immunization program by the end of the year. With the current market price of the vaccine standing at 2,000 rupees ($24.13), this initiative marks a pivotal step towards making the vaccine more accessible to a wider population.
Poonawalla emphasized the institute’s commitment to meeting the escalating demand for the vaccine, particularly among girls aged nine to 14 years, as part of the government’s efforts to combat cervical cancer, which ranks as the second most common cancer among women in India.
Although formal contracts with the government are yet to be finalized, Poonawalla anticipates the procurement of between 40 to 50 million doses through a tender process scheduled for December. This move opens avenues for collaboration with other HPV vaccine manufacturers such as Merck & Co and GSK Plc, further bolstering the nation’s immunization efforts.
Furthermore, Poonawalla highlighted the institute’s ongoing efforts to streamline vaccine production, leveraging its existing facilities which previously played a pivotal role in manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic. Despite operational constraints, Serum remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering high-quality vaccines to meet the nation’s healthcare needs.
Looking ahead, Serum Institute aims to obtain WHO pre-qualification for its HPV vaccine, with plans to commence exporting the shots to other countries by 2026. This not only reinforces India’s position as a global leader in vaccine production but also underscores the institute’s dedication to addressing critical healthcare challenges on a global scale.
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As Serum Institute of India expands its supply of affordable HPV vaccines, it heralds a new era of accessibility and affordability in the fight against cervical cancer, bringing hope and protection to millions of lives across the nation and beyond.
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