GANGTOK, 13 Jan: The state government has postponed its vaccination programme against cervical cancer till further notice. The vaccination drive was scheduled to begin on 16 January.
In an official statement issued today, the Health Department has stated that the launch of the Rs. 36 crore Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination project has been postponed to allow for more time to create awareness and educate the general public about its efficacy and usefulness.
Sikkim Krantikari Morcha had registered its protest against the vaccination project stating that the efficacy of the HPV vaccines is yet to be proven and pointing out that a Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court against the use of these vaccines.
Addressing a press conference today, SKM members Dr. Michung Bhutia and Pavitra Bhandari warned of a state-wide protest if the government goes ahead with the HPV vaccination programme. The duo informed that health activists Kalpana Mehta and Dr. V. Rukmini Rao had filed a complaint with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairperson Kushal Singh on 11 January requesting her to enquire into the matter and ask the Sikkim Health Department to withhold the vaccination drive.
In the letter, Ms. Mehta and Dr Rao have said, ‘‘Without investigation into safety and efficacy of these vaccines in the Indian context such a step is premature and could prove to be a health hazard. There is no hurry to vaccinate girls as the vaccine will not have any consequence to their health for 30 years as this vaccination if successful will only prevent cervical cancer when these girls reach late forties”.
They have also requested the NCPCR to investigate how this programme got administrative and financial sanction in Sikkim.
Stating that these vaccines were licensed in India without proper procedure, the complainants had also requested the Health Ministry to get a premier investigating agency to enquire into the matter.
The two SKM members also presented a copy of a letter from the Union Health Ministry written to the Secretary, Health department, Sikkim on 05 December giving details about the Indian Council of Medical Research’s advice regarding the vaccination scheme. In the letter, Dr. Sudhir Gupta, the Additional Deputy Director General of the Health Ministry has stated that “the ministry is not currently supporting introduction of HPV vaccine in public health programmes”.
In an official statement issued today, the Health Department has stated that the launch of the Rs. 36 crore Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination project has been postponed to allow for more time to create awareness and educate the general public about its efficacy and usefulness.
Sikkim Krantikari Morcha had registered its protest against the vaccination project stating that the efficacy of the HPV vaccines is yet to be proven and pointing out that a Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court against the use of these vaccines.
Addressing a press conference today, SKM members Dr. Michung Bhutia and Pavitra Bhandari warned of a state-wide protest if the government goes ahead with the HPV vaccination programme. The duo informed that health activists Kalpana Mehta and Dr. V. Rukmini Rao had filed a complaint with the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairperson Kushal Singh on 11 January requesting her to enquire into the matter and ask the Sikkim Health Department to withhold the vaccination drive.
In the letter, Ms. Mehta and Dr Rao have said, ‘‘Without investigation into safety and efficacy of these vaccines in the Indian context such a step is premature and could prove to be a health hazard. There is no hurry to vaccinate girls as the vaccine will not have any consequence to their health for 30 years as this vaccination if successful will only prevent cervical cancer when these girls reach late forties”.
They have also requested the NCPCR to investigate how this programme got administrative and financial sanction in Sikkim.
Stating that these vaccines were licensed in India without proper procedure, the complainants had also requested the Health Ministry to get a premier investigating agency to enquire into the matter.
The two SKM members also presented a copy of a letter from the Union Health Ministry written to the Secretary, Health department, Sikkim on 05 December giving details about the Indian Council of Medical Research’s advice regarding the vaccination scheme. In the letter, Dr. Sudhir Gupta, the Additional Deputy Director General of the Health Ministry has stated that “the ministry is not currently supporting introduction of HPV vaccine in public health programmes”.
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