WHO updates recommendations for HPV vaccine

The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated recommendations for the vaccine against HPV, one of the main risk factors for cervical cancer. The disease is one of the main causes of death for women in the world. The virus does not only infect women. The disease also poses risks for men. For experts, the best prevention is the use of condoms, both male and female, and also vaccination. Although the vaccine is one of the main forms of prevention, the percentage of immunization has been falling worldwide. Flávia Miranda Corrêa, medical consultant for the Cancer Foundation, assesses that there are several reasons for low adherence, and highlights the importance of campaigns. “The focus was placed on avoiding the sexually transmitted virus, when the focus has to be shifted to cancer prevention. Another difficulty is vaccinating in schools in the country and the third issue is more related to the anti-vaccination movement, which is not exclusive to the country. Brazil,” he explained. In Brazil, since 2014, when the HPV vaccine was implemented in the national vaccination schedule, the supply is made with the quadrivalent vaccine, offered free of charge by the Unified Health System (SUS). According to the Ministry of Health, the HPV vaccine is indicated for girls and boys aged 9 to 14 years. This is because it is highly effective in adolescents in this age group not exposed to HPV types 6,11,16 and 18, inducing the production of antibodies in quantities many times greater than that found in naturally acquired infection within two years. The most favorable time for vaccination is in this age group, preferably before sexual initiation, that is, before exposure to the virus. Brazil is one of the countries that offers the vaccine to the most extensive age groups and was one of the first in Latin America to include boys in vaccination. The Ministry of Health informed, in a note, that the National Immunization Program follows the discussion and is waiting for the conclusion of other studies on the duration of immunity with a single dose and will discuss this matter in the first half of 2023.

Agência Brasil