Poonam Pandey, an actor and model, ‘dies’ at age 32 from cervical cancer on Friday. According to her media manager, actress and model Poonam Pandey passed away on Friday at the age of 32 from cervical cancer. Notably, the announcement was made the day after Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman suggested a strategy to promote HPV vaccination as a preventative measure against cervical cancer while introducing the Interim Budget for 2024–25 in Parliament. Who qualifies for the vaccination program against cervical cancer?
The specifics of the program were not disclosed, despite Sitharaman’s declaration that the government would support HPV vaccination among girls between the ages of 9 and 14 in order to prevent cervical cancer.
The government is reportedly looking into ways to cap costs so that cervical cancer vaccines can be obtained at a lower cost. In addition to lowering costs, the report proposes that the government promote HPV vaccination against cervical cancer by means of information, education, and communication (IEC) initiatives. “Cervavac” is the name of the recently created cervical cancer vaccine in India.
Notably, Indian researchers have created the first domestic human papillomavirus vaccine, known as “Cervavac,” which can prevent cervical cancer and other diseases linked to HPV. This vaccine was created and produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII) in Pune, and it will soon be a part of India’s national immunization program in 2024.
Cervical cancer: What is it?
Cancer is a disease that affects nearly all animals, including humans, where cells grow and spread abnormally. Ancient human skeletons have been found to contain cancerous remnants.
Over 100 different types of cancer exist, and each requires a unique diagnosis and course of treatment. Cervical cancer is one of them. Cervical cancer, though largely preventable, is the second-most common cancer in India and accounts for 25% of all cervical cancer deaths worldwide. In India, more than 75,000 women lose their lives to cervical cancer each year, with 1.25 lakh receiving a diagnosis. Compared to 70% globally, 83% of invasive cervical cancers in India are associated with HPVs 16 or 18.
At the “Cervavac” launch event, Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh stated that vaccination against the human papillomavirus is the most effective means of preventing cervical cancer. Together, HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for roughly 70% of invasive cervical cancer cases globally.
The HPV vaccine is recommended as the best defense against cervical cancer in young women. Early vaccination, either before sexual activity or before age, can better prime the body to fend off the HPV (human papillomavirus) virus. But men can also benefit from the HPV vaccine since it can protect them against head, neck, penile, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers, among other cancers. The HPV vaccine can guard against genital warts and other intimate health problems, as well as a variety of cancers. Out of 96,922 women in India who are diagnosed with cervical cancer, 60,078 of them pass away from the disease each year, making cervical cancer the second most common cause of death for women after breast cancer.
