KATHMANDU, Aug 31: The vaccine against human papilloma virus (HPV), which the government bought from China three months ago, is going to be limited to demonstration as samples this time as well. The government introduced a vaccine produced by China's Sinovac company in mid-June. The vaccine that was brought by paying an additional price of about Rs 90 million is only 20,000 vials.

After insufficient vaccination to reach the target population, the government has named the vaccination campaign this year as the vaccination campaign based on demonstration level. This is the second time that the vaccines have been distributed in a demonstration pattern. A few years ago, the government distributed a limited number of vaccines against HPV in Chitwan and Kaski districts. This year too, it seems that this vaccine will be administered to only a limited number of people.

This vaccine is against cervical cancer in women. Cervical cancer occurs if a woman is infected with HPV through unprotected sex or other reasons. This vaccine is provided to adolescents, young women and girls who haven’t been in sexual intercourse. Cervical cancer occurs in 2000 people in Nepal every year.

As the number of vaccines is limited, the government has decided to provide vaccines for girls between 10 and 14 years of age this year. It has been prepared to distribute in different districts from September 6. The government has prepared to distribute the vaccine only three months after introducing the vaccine.

Abhiyan Gautam, the head of the vaccination branch of the Family Welfare Division, said on Wednesday, “This vaccine is only of demonstration level, we are in the process of bringing more vaccines,” he said. Gautam said that since the target population will not receive the vaccine this year too, a proposal to get the vaccine through the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) has been made.

Gautam added that the 20,000 vials of the vaccine currently brought will only be able to be delivered to 9,000 people. But the number of girls who need to be vaccinated against HPV in Nepal is currently 1.65 million. Gautam said that after the introduction of the HPV vaccine, they are planning to change the current age group and forward the regular vaccination program.

The price of an HPV vial is equivalent to more than Rs 4000 for one dose. Surendra Chaurasiya, head of the supply branch of the Health Services Division, said that after the government is unable to provide vaccines to the entire target group through the procurement process, it is possible that the vaccine will be available through GAVI next year.

The government had already provided vaccination against HPV under a pilot project in Kaski and Chitwan. Gautam mentioned that the 20,000 vials of the vaccine that were brought for the second time which are used for demonstration purposes result in not being effectively managed. “It is not appropriate to distribute the vaccine in the same pattern for the second time,” he said.

 
• HPV
 
• China
 
• Cervical_cancer