In addition to expanding the age range, the vaccine will now be administered in a single dose; The vaccine prevents the main types of HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer
This Friday, the 3rd, the Town Hall of St. Paul announced the expansion of vaccination against papillomavirus (HPV) in the municipality, including young people aged 15 to 19 who have not yet received the vaccine. Furthermore, another novelty is that the dose schedule will be simplified, going from two to a single dose, both for this new age group and for the one originally planned, from 9 to 14 years.
Currently, the HPV vaccine is available through Unified Health System (SUS) it is quadrivalent, offering protection against human papillomavirus types 6, 11, 16, and 18. It is worth noting that types 16 and 18 are associated with approximately 70% of cervical cancer cases, as well as being related to other types of cancers and genital warts.
The new vaccination calendar, according to the Municipality, follows the guidelines of World Health Organization (WHO)based on studies conducted over the 10 years following its launch in 2014. “These studies provide robust evidence that one dose of the vaccine can provide as much protection against HPV as two or three doses, as well as facilitating logistics of the vaccine vaccination,” the coordinator of the Municipal Immunization Program (PMI), Mariana de Souza Araújo, said in a statement.
He points out that the extension of the age range also follows WHO guidelines, as eight out of ten men and women will be infected with one or more sexually transmitted HPV types at some point in their lives, and the highest rates of HPV infection occurs mainly in sexually active people up to the age of 25.
Expectation
As announced by the municipal management, the expectation is that the proposed changes will encourage wider adherence to vaccination, resulting in increased vaccination coverage and, consequently, greater immunity in a larger segment of the population.
According to Mariana, the changes will be implemented alongside a strategic restructuring, which includes health teams actively searching for unvaccinated young people. Basic health units (UBS)as well as carrying out vaccination in schools.
In the city of Sao Paulo, which adopted the HPV vaccine 10 years ago, coverage in the 9 to 14 age group is 72.41% for girls and 43.37% for boys. It is worth remembering that the goal established by Ministry of Health and the research carried out by PNI is equal to 80%.
Non-immunized adolescents and young people can look for the UBS closest to their home by bringing their identity card and SUS card with them. UBSs operate Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., while Ambulatory Medical Care (AMA)/Integrated UBS also offer vaccinations on Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
