MSD Pharma Launches India’s First Gender-Neutral HPV Vaccine. Know If You Are Eligible & Required Doses

First launched in the US in 2015, HPV vaccine has been approved in more than 80 countries across the globe, which helps protect against nine types of HPV.

HPV Syringes On Table | Getty

New Delhi: In a major breakthrough MSD Pharmaceuticals on Wednesday announced the launch of gender-neutral Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to help reduce HPV-related disease burden in the country.

According to the pharmaceuticals company, it is the only US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) approved vaccine, first launched in the US in 2015. It has been approved in more than 80 countries across the globe, which helps protect against 9 types of HPV.

How Does HPV Affect Humans?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of viruses that are extremely common worldwide. There are more than 100 types of HPV, of which at least 14 are cancer-causing (also known as high-risk type), according to the World Health Organization.

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HPV is mainly transmitted through sexual contact and most people are infected with HPV shortly after the onset of sexual activity. Cervical cancer is caused by sexually acquired infection with certain types of HPV.

MSD Pharmaceuticals is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck Sharp & Dohme (known as Merck & Co., Inc. in the US and Canada).

How Does Vaccination Help Fight Diseases?

GARDASIL 9 is a nano valent vaccine given as an intramuscular injection, in a total of three doses spread over six months. The 9-valent HPV vaccine helps in reducing cancers caused by the HPV types contained in the vaccine.

The vaccination helps to reduce the disease burden of cervical cancer, vulvar cancer, vaginal cancer, and anal cancer among females besides playing a critical role in the global elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem.

The vaccine can be administered to girls and women aged 9-26 years and boys aged between 9-15 years.

The vaccine is recommended for boys for the prevention of genital warts, anal intraepithelial neoplasia, anal cancer, and precancerous or dysplastic lesions, according to the news agency ANI.

Managing Director of MSD-India region Rehan A Khan noted that raising awareness among parents of young boys and girls is critical in addressing the HPV disease burden in India.