India's HPV Vaccine Cervavac Gets WHO Prequalification: What It Means for Cervical Cancer Prevention
Cervavac, a vaccine against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) made by the Serum Institute of India (SII), Pune, has been added to the World Health Organization's (WHO) list of prequalified vaccines. It was prequalified on 25 September 2026, and this was announced in early October 2026.
WHO prequalification means United Nations agencies such as UNICEF can now buy Cervavac for national vaccination programmes in other countries.
Cervavac is a quadrivalent vaccine (it protects against four HPV types: 6, 11, 16 and 18). It is approved for both girls and boys aged 9 to 26 years.
Dosing: two doses six months apart for ages 9 to 14; three doses for ages 15 to 26.
It is India's first indigenously developed HPV vaccine, made with support from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This is SII's 32nd WHO prequalification.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Cervical Cancer
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common virus that spreads through close skin-to-skin and sexual contact. Most people get it at some point in life, and the body usually clears it on its own within a year or two. But a few types of HPV can stay in the body for many years and slowly turn normal cells into cancer cells. The most common cancer caused this way is cervical cancer, the cancer of the cervix (the lower, narrow part of the womb). It is almost fully preventable with a vaccine and regular screening.
Cervavac covers HPV types 16 and 18 (about 70% of cervical cancers) and 6 and 11 (most genital warts). With WHO prequalification, this Indian-made quadrivalent vaccine can now be supplied to other countries through UN agencies, adding to global supply needed to meet the 90% vaccination target by 2030.
WHO Prequalification Programme
WHO prequalification is a quality check run by the World Health Organization on vaccines, medicines, diagnostic tests and some medical devices. When a product passes, WHO puts it on its official list of "prequalified" products. This tells UN agencies and many low- and middle-income countries that the product is safe, effective and made to good quality standards, so they can buy it with confidence.
Cervavac's entry into the WHO prequalified list means UN agencies like UNICEF can now buy this Indian-made HPV vaccine for countries' immunisation programmes. This was possible because India's vaccine regulator holds a functional WHO rating, and it adds another supplier to the limited global HPV vaccine market.
- Vaccine: Cervavac (Serum Institute of India, Pune), quadrivalent, covers HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18
- WHO prequalification date: 25 September 2026 (announced October 2026)
- Approved for: girls and boys aged 9 to 26 years
- Doses: 2 doses (ages 9 to 14, six months apart); 3 doses (ages 15 to 26)
- Developed with: DBT, BIRAC and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- India's first indigenous HPV vaccine: DCGI approval 12 July 2022, launch 1 September 2022
- India's national HPV campaign: launched 28 February 2026, single dose for girls aged 14
- WHO 90-70-90 targets for 2030; elimination threshold: below 4 per 100,000 women