UN Agencies Can Now Buy Serum Institute HPV Vaccine After WHO Approval

UPDATE - follow-up to Serum Institute's HPV vaccine Cervavac receives WHO prequalification: Serum Institute of India secured global clearance from the World Health Organization for its Cervavac vaccine.

Vaccine Details And Uses

The shot defends against four strains of human papillomavirus, specifically types six, eleven, sixteen, and eighteen. Young people aged nine to twenty-six, including both boys and girls, can take it. Doctors give the shot into a muscle using single-dose zero-point-five millilitre vials or two-dose one millilitre vials. The shot helps stop anal cancer in young men and boys, plus cervical, vaginal, vulvar, and anal cancers in young women and girls. It also guards against genital warts for this age group.

Partners And Global Reach

Getting this WHO status means United Nations bodies can now buy the vaccine for global distribution. Serum Institute created the product together with the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, the Department of Biotechnology, the Gates Foundation, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. CEO Adar Poonawalla stated that this approval helps build up the worldwide fight against the virus. India's Drugs Controller General previously cleared the product for domestic use. This marks the thirty-second WHO prequalification milestone for biological products made by the firm.

Context

World Health Organization prequalification acts as a quality stamp that allows international organisations to buy medical products safely for developing countries. Developing vaccines locally helps lower costs and ensures steady supplies for public health immunization programs around the world.