SII to boost HPV vaccine output in sync with govt's immunization drive
NEW DELHI : Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) plans to expand the annual production capacity of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines to around 70 million doses, starting this year, according to a company spokesperson. The company’s plan to expand the vaccine production capacity from 2-3 million doses currently aligns with the government’s efforts to introduce the HPV vaccine against cervical cancer for girls aged 9-14 years, as announced in the interim budget by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. “Currently, SII has a production capacity of around 2-3 million doses for the Cervavac vaccine.
That said, the company plans to considerably expand this capacity, with a target of reaching 60–70 million doses," the spokesperson told Mint. The company did not disclose any financial or other details regarding the production boost. The company said it has tied up with the Union health ministry for enrollment of the Cervavac vaccine under the pan-India immunization programme.
National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI), the highest advisory body on immunization in the country, has recommended the inclusion of the vaccine in the universal immunization programme (UIP). While discussions on pricing for the government set-up are still preliminary, the vaccine’s inclusion in the UIP could dramatically increase its accessibility and impact. “It would be too early to talk about the pricing.
Cervavac vaccine is currently available in the private market and has seen a positive response as well. We will continue to build awareness about HPV and cervical cancer through various initiatives," it added. The company had in 2022 announced manufacturing the first indigenous vaccine for the prevention of
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