Hyderabad: Around 120 girls from orphanages received free vaccinations to prevent cervical cancer under an initiative launched by the Apollo Cancer Centres on Monday. The vaccine fights the human papillomavirus (HPV), a major cause of cervical cancer, the second-most common cancer among women in India.This effort gains significance in light of the Centre’s announcement last year of free HPV vaccines and the recent Budget’s focus on cancer care.The vaccinations will be available to eligible women at Apollo Cancer Centres, Jubilee Hills, from 9 am to 6 pm. Beneficiaries must collect coupons from the centre and visit for their first dose at the allocated date and time. Similar schedules will be arranged for the second dose.“The vaccination costs around Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000, which is expensive for most Indian families, that too for disease prevention. We have conducted a study on 100 patients with HPV-related diseases and found that cervical cancer developed in 99 per cent of them. With such a high prevalence, prevention is the only solution,” said Dr Vijay Anand Reddy, director of Apollo Cancer Centres.He noted that 30 years ago, cervical cancer accounted for 50–60 per cent of all cancer cases, but with increasing awareness and medical advancements, its share has declined to 22 per cent, while breast cancer now constitutes 30 per cent of cases. He stressed that vaccination could further reduce cervical cancer rates.The vaccine is administered to girls aged 9 to 26, ideally before their first sexual intercourse. “HPV is transmitted from men to women during intercourse. In 80 per cent of cases, the virus is naturally eliminated by the body. However, in 20 per cent of women, it persists, increasing the risk of developing cancer later in life,” Dr Reddy said.Immunity plays a crucial role, he said. “Good hygiene—both during intercourse and otherwise—along with strong immunity, is key to prevention,” Dr Reddy explained. The vaccine also helps prevent other diseases, including anal cancer, penile cancer in men, and genital warts. “This is why vaccination is also recommended for boys,” he added.Actress Meenakshi Choudhary unveiled the initiative, which will run throughout February.
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