What is the Cost of a Cancer Vaccine?

HPV & Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines: Cost, Benefits & Availability

Cancer vaccines, when administered, release specific antigen peptides into the body to prevent cancer. There are different types of vaccines that target particular aspects of cancer cells to create an immune response to their onset. Read on to learn about the costs of a cancer vaccine.

Understanding Cancer Vaccine

There are many types of cancer whose treatment has a higher probability of cure. Such cancers require the administration of vaccines. The antigen peptides that enter an individual's body upon administration of such a vaccine help build immunity against the onset of cancer cells. After the immune system has already adapted, it starts killing all cancer cells upon detection.

The CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation) has approved the following types of vaccines to date:

• Human Papillomavirus 9-valent Vaccine, Recombinant: Also known as Gardasil-9. This specific vaccine protects individuals against various types of HPV upon administration. It protects against - vaginal, cervical, anal and vulvar.
• qHPV (Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus): The design of this vaccine is specifically for the prevention of HPV-related cancers. The approval of this vaccine is for individuals aged 15-26 years.
• Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines: These vaccines are used for the treatment of existing cancers. There are vaccines, such as Sipuleucel-T (Provenge) and Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), approved for the treatment of specific types of cancers, including prostate and bladder cancer, respectively.

Cost of Cancer Vaccines

The cost of cancer vaccines in India varies significantly depending on the specific vaccine type and the treatment approach taken by an individual. For instance, HPV vaccines cost around Rs. 2,000 - Rs. 10,000 per dose. Meanwhile, the other cancer vaccines for immunotherapies and adoptive cell transfer range from Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 7,00,000.

Factors that influence the Cost of Cancer Vaccines

Here are some factors which influence the cost of the cancer vaccine:

Type of Vaccine

The type of vaccine one receives also plays a role in determining the final cost of a vaccine. For example, the cost of preventive cancer vaccines is more than that of therapeutic vaccines.

Brand and Manufacturer

Different manufacturers and brands employ varying pricing strategies. This leads to price differences between the same type of vaccine, depending on where one obtains it.

Regulatory Approval

There is also the fact that specific regulatory requirements exist concerning the approval of new vaccines, which makes some of them more costly when they become available in the market.

Medical Facility Location

The geographical location of the medical facility where one receives a vaccination also plays a significant role in determining the final vaccine costs. For example, the fees associated with a vaccine in Kolkata differ from those in Hyderabad.

Age Group

Another major factor which contributes to the total cost of getting cancer vaccines is the age group of individuals. For instance, younger individuals typically require fewer doses and incur lower overall costs.

Having an idea about the total cost of a cancer vaccine helps individuals effectively strategise treatment and resource allocation.

Also Read:

→ Cost of a Cardiac Doppler Test

→ Cost of a Cardiac Echo Test

→ Cost of a Cardiac Evaluation Test

→ Cost of a FISH Test for Cancer in India

→ Cost of a Full-body Cancer Scan