Hyderabad-based WAF raises concerns over HPV vaccine, yeast allergy

The World Allergy Foundation has raised concerns about HPV vaccination in individuals with yeast allergies, urging mandatory screening. It warned that ignoring hypersensitivity risks during large-scale vaccination campaigns could pose avoidable public health challenges.

Hyderabad: Hyderabad-based World Allergy Foundation (WAF) on Wednesday launched a public awareness campaign under the slogan ‘HPV VACCINATION NOT for ALL’, warning that yeast allergy is a serious red flag for the vaccine.

The Foundation, headed by senior allergy specialist Dr Vyakaranam Nageshwar, maintains that the lack of mandatory screening for yeast hypersensitivity (allergy) among girls, who are supposed to get the vaccine, poses a significant public health risk.

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The WAF, which has submitted a formal technical representation to the Prime Minister’s Office, has pointed out that Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Baker’s yeast) has been used in the production of recombinant HPV vaccines. Because residual yeast proteins remain in the final product, the vaccine is strictly contraindicated, which means doctors must avoid administering this vaccine to girls who are sensitive to yeast allergy.

“Clinical evidence indicates a remarkably high prevalence of yeast hypersensitivity in the population. In a retrospective analysis conducted at Aswini Allergy Centre, Hyderabad, involving modified allergy skin prick tests on 300 randomly selected patients from a larger database of 30,000 cases, more than 40 per cent exhibited hypersensitivity to yeast,” Dr Vyakaranam Nageshwar, in the representation to PMO, said.

“The 40 per cent hypersensitivity is notably high and administering HPV vaccines on a blanket basis, without accounting for this hypersensitivity, poses an unnecessary and avoidable risk, especially in school-based or community-wide campaigns reaching millions,” Dr Vyakaranam said.

He urged authorities to prevent the calamity of flare-up in allergy and autoimmune diseases among Indian citizens during post vaccination drives, as seen earlier during Covid.

HPV vaccine symptoms to watch out for:

Skin: Intense itching, hives (urticaria), or swelling of the face and tongue

Respiratory: Wheezing, shortness of breath, or asthma-like attacks

Gastrointestinal: Nausea, vomiting, or abdominal cramps

Systemic (Severe): Rapid heartbeat, drop in blood pressure, and potentially fatal anaphylaxis

Safeguards:

Mandatory Clinical Screening for yeast allergies before vaccine shot

Clear referral protocols to refer at-risk individuals to allergy specialists

Transparent reporting system to track and report adverse reactions

Local large-scale Indian studies to confirm prevalence of yeast sensitivity