Last Monday, April 1st, the Ministry of Health, through Minister Nísia Trindade, announced that the vaccine against HPV (Papillomavirus) will stop the two-dose schedule and will only be a single dose.
The vaccine is useful in combating HPV infection, which is sexually transmitted and is the main source of cervical cancer.
The minister, through her account on the social network ‘X’, expressed the importance of vaccination against HPV, emphasizing that a single vaccine can offer lifelong protection against various types of diseases and cancers associated with the virus, such as cervical cancer. uterus.
In 2023, 5.6 million doses of the vaccine were administered, representing the highest number since 2018 and an increase of 42% compared to 2022.
With these data, Nísia highlighted that the decision to use only one dose of the vaccine was based on scientific studies and aligned with the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Single-dose HPV vaccine
Immunization against HPV in Brazil is recommended for boys It is girls aged between 9 and 14 years old, as well as people who fall into specific risk groups.
In addition to the age group, the vaccine includes victims of sexual abuse between 15 and 45 years old who have not been previously immunized, individuals living with HIV, solid organ and bone marrow transplant recipients, as well as cancer patients aged 9 to 45 years old. .
In addition to vaccination, the Ministry of Health announced an important measure for HPV and cervical cancer screening.
An HPV detection test classified as innovative, capable of previously detecting uterine infection, was incorporated into the Unified Health System (SUS).
One of the advantages of this test is that it allows testing to be carried out only every five years, while the current form of screening, through the exam known as the Pap smear, needs to be carried out every three years.
The incorporation of this test into the public health network was evaluated by the National Commission for the Incorporation of Technologies into the Unified Health System (Conitec), which, considering the technology more accurate compared to the options currently offered by the SUS.
