Archive · 5 Oct 2026
India’s Cervavac HPV Vaccine Wins WHO Prequalification
Cervavac is a vaccine made in India that helps protect people from some types of human papillomavirus, or HPV.
HPV can cause certain cancers and genital warts.
The World Health Organization has now prequalified the vaccine.
This means United Nations agencies can buy it for distribution around the world.
Cervavac is made by the Serum Institute of India.
It is intended for girls and boys aged 9 to 26.
Younger people in the eligible age range receive two doses, while older people receive three.
India’s drug regulator had already approved the vaccine for use in the country.
The World Health Organization prequalified Cervavac, India’s first indigenously developed HPV vaccine.
The vaccine is manufactured by the Serum Institute of India and can now be procured by United Nations agencies for global distribution.
Cervavac targets HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 and is indicated for people aged 9 through 26.
It is intended to help prevent certain cancers and genital warts linked to those HPV types.
The vaccine uses a two-dose schedule for ages 9–14 and a three-dose schedule for ages 15–26.
- Who
- The Serum Institute of India manufactures Cervavac; the World Health Organization granted its prequalification.
- What
- Cervavac, India’s first indigenously developed HPV vaccine, received WHO prequalification.
- Where
- India; WHO prequalification enables United Nations agencies to procure the vaccine for global distribution.
- Why
- Prequalification enables UN agencies to procure the vaccine for distribution and use in preventing HPV-related diseases.
- Manufacturer
- Serum Institute of India
- Vaccine type
- Recombinant quadrivalent HPV vaccine
- HPV types targeted
- 6, 11, 16 and 18
- Eligible ages
- Girls and boys aged 9 through 26
- Dose schedule
- Two doses for ages 9–14; three doses for ages 15–26
- Administration
- Intramuscular injection
- WHO prequalification significance
- Enables procurement by United Nations agencies for global distribution
- Prior Indian approval
- Approved for use in India by the Drugs Controller General of India