2024 interim budget Poonam Pandey, the actress and model, allegedly passed away at the age of 32 from cervical cancer, as reported by her media manager on Friday. The announcement coincidentally followed Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s proposal for an HPV vaccination strategy during the Interim 2024 interim budget–25. Sitharaman suggested supporting HPV vaccination for girls aged 9 to 14 to prevent cervical cancer, but details of the program were not disclosed.
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The government is exploring ways to reduce the cost of cervical cancer vaccines and is considering information, education, and communication (IEC) initiatives to promote HPV vaccination. The recently developed Indian cervical cancer vaccine, “Cervavac,” produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII) in Pune, is expected to be part of India’s national immunization program in 2024.
Cervical cancer, a largely preventable disease, is the second most common cancer in India, contributing to 25% of global cervical cancer deaths. More than 75,000 Indian women lose their lives to cervical cancer annually, with 1.25 lakh diagnoses. About 83% of invasive cervical cancers in India are associated with HPV types 16 or 18.
During the “Cervavac” launch, Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh emphasized that HPV vaccination is the most effective way to prevent cervical cancer. HPV types 16 and 18 cause approximately 70% of global invasive cervical cancer cases.
The vaccine is recommended for young women as the primary defense against cervical cancer. Early vaccination, preferably before sexual activity or at a young age, enhances the body’s ability to combat the human papillomavirus (HPV). Additionally, men can benefit from the HPV vaccine, protecting against various cancers and intimate health issues.
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In India, out of 96,922 diagnosed cases of cervical cancer in women, 60,078 succumb to the disease annually, making cervical cancer the second leading cause of death for women after breast cancer.