WHO approves fourth single-dose cervical cancer vaccine

Geneva,  Oct 5: A fourth WHO-prequalified human papillomavirus (HPV)  vaccine product, Cecolin, has been confirmed for use in a single-dose  schedule to prevent cervical cancer, a statement said.

This  important milestone will contribute to improving sustainable supply of  HPV vaccines-allowing more girls to be reached with the vaccines that  prevent the cancer, the WHO statement said on Friday.

WHO Director-General Dr  Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “Unlike most other cancers, we have the  ability to remove cervical cancer, along with its painful inequities.”

More  than 95 percent of the 660,000 cervical cancer cases occurring globally  every year are caused by HPV. In Every two minutes, a woman dies from  this preventable disease globally, and 90 percent of these deaths occur  in low- and middle-income countries.

Of the 20 hardest hit countries  caused by cervical cancer 19 are in Africa.

(UNI)