Why is it in news?

Recently, a Rome-based epidemiologist, Tom Jefferson, of the Cochrane Collaboration highlighted in a paper worrying gaps in published data on the vaccine, designed to prevent HPV-related cervical cancer.

Details

• Dr. Jefferson found that only two-thirds of the clinical trials on the HPV vaccine, manufactured by Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), had been published.
• Last year, Dr. Jefferson and other vaccine safety experts had questioned the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) assertion that HPV vaccines are safe, after they found that the EMA had relied mainly on MSD’s and GSK’s analysis of clinical trial data to reach this conclusion. This is a problem because drug manufacturers have been known to cherry-pick data to show safety.
• Clinical trials — experiments to gauge the effectiveness and safety of drugs — face a transparency crisis. As drug makers often don’t share all trial data, their claims cannot be re-examined by neutral outsiders. The Tamiflu vaccine fiasco is an example of how drug makers are often not transparent and their opaqueness creates severe health risks in future.
• HPV vaccines have been in the middle of a controversy because of suspicions that they may be causing a trio of rare illnesses called Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
• Although, it is only suspected that this vaccine is known to cause these diseases. There is no concrete evidence to support these suspicions.

About the Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

• Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines are vaccines that prevent infection by certain types of human papillomavirus. Available vaccines protect against two, four, or nine types of HPV.
• All vaccines protect against at least HPV type 16 and 18 that cause the greatest risk of cervical cancer.
• It is estimated that they may prevent 70% of cervical cancer, 80% of anal cancer, 60% of vaginal cancer, 40% of vulvar cancer, and possibly some mouth cancer.
• They additionally prevent some genital warts with the vaccines against 4 and 9 HPV types providing greater protection.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends HPV vaccines as part of routine vaccinations in all countries, along with other prevention measures. The vaccines require two or three doses depending on a person's age and immune status. Vaccinating girls around the ages of nine to thirteen is typically recommended.
• The vaccines provide protection for at least 5 to 10 years.
• Cervical cancer screening is still required following vaccination.
• Vaccinating a large portion of the population may also benefit the unvaccinated.
• In those already infected the vaccines are not effective.
• The first HPV vaccine became available in 2006.
• As of 2017, 71 countries include it in their routine vaccinations, at least for girls.
• They are on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system.

Conclusion

India has one of the largest burden of cervical cancer patients in the world. So, it is Imperative that India should adopt vaccines that would help it reduce this burden and save lives. Recently, The National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI), an advisory body that recommends vaccines for India’s Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), has given the green signal to the introduction of the Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in the UIP. Although this is a step in the right direction, concerns regarding the vaccine must be examined and addressed effectively to prevent future problems.

Source

The Hindu