New protocol from the Ministry of Health establishes a single dose for the HPV vaccine | National Newspaper

New Ministry of Health protocol recommends 1 dose of HPV vaccine

The prevention of cervical cancer it became much easier. O new protocol Ministry of Health began to predict Single dose for HPV vaccine.

Natalia is 10 years old and has already had two doses of the HPV vaccine. Her mother shows her the complete notebook.

“Such a simple vaccine, which had no side effects, for free. Anyway, no reaction whatsoever. So, I only saw benefits, I didn’t see any cons”, says banker Adriana Ruppel.

The vaccine is distributed free of charge in SUS for children and adolescents aged 9 to 14, but coverage is below expectations. In girls, it reaches 76% in the first dose, but drops to 60% in the second. In boys, coverage with the first dose is 42%. In the second, 27%.

HPV, a sexually transmitted virus, is associated with more than 90% of cervical cancer cases – the third most common tumor among women. Until now, SUS gave two doses. No more.

The Ministry of Health decided to follow the recommendations of the World Health Organization and from Pan American Health Organization. Therefore, from now on, the vaccination schedule will only have one dose. According to the organizations, the Single dose already offers significant protection against HPV, which can lead to greater adherence to vaccination, increasing vaccination coverage and helping to combat cervical cancer.

“It is the same vaccine, but it was found that one dose protects, a strategy already used in 37 countries. So, Brazil is not alone in this process and we make these decisions in the National Immunization Program, always listening to this scientific committee”, says the Minister of Health, Nísia Trindade.

The Ministry of Health also wants states and municipalities to carry out a active search of young people up to 19 years of age who have not yet received any dose of the vaccine so that they can update their vaccination. The Brazilian Immunization Society considers the initiative necessary.

“The more people vaccinated, the less the virus circulates. The vaccinated person does not become infected and does not transmit it. So, the idea is that we can expand this vaccination, reduce circulation rates as much as possible, and you will have less disease, fewer infected people and less illness”, explains Mônica Levi, president of the Brazilian Society of Immunizations.