Pune: BJMC Becomes First Government Medical College In Maharashtra To Offer Free HPV Vaccination For Staff
Pune: BJMC Becomes First Government Medical College In Maharashtra To Offer Free HPV Vaccination For Staff
In a significant move, the BJ Medical College (BJMC) and Sassoon General Hospital (SGH) have launched a free Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination drive for female doctors and hospital staff. This initiative makes BJMC the first government medical college in Maharashtra to conduct such a drive.
The vaccination program, which began on Tuesday, will be conducted inside the SGH campus. Approximately 1,000 female students, including MBBS, nursing, and postgraduate students up to 26 years of age, will receive the quadrivalent vaccine. This vaccine targets four HPV subtypes (6, 11, 16, and 18) and will be administered in three doses over a period of one year.
Dr. Yallapa Jadhav, medical superintendent of BJMC and SGH, the HPV vaccine is a crucial tool in preventing HPV-associated cancers, such as cervical, vaginal, vulvar, and anal cancers, as well as genital warts caused by HPV types 6 and 11.
Dr. Eknath Pawar, dean of BJMC and SGH, stated to the media that the vaccination drive has received a positive response, with many students already booking their slots in advance. The vaccine will be provided free of charge, and the manufacturer has offered discounted rates. The expenses incurred will be covered by the BJMC and SGH.
Notably, the HPV vaccination will soon be included in the national immunization program. However, BJMC has taken the initiative to start the program voluntarily.
