Ministry of Health adopts single-dose HPV vaccination schedule

The Brazilian Ministry of Health announced a significant change in its vaccination program against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), adopting a single-dose schedule replacing the previous two-dose schedule. This measure, revealed through a Technical Note last Monday (1st), aims to intensify protection against cervical cancer and other complications associated with the virus.

According to the new strategy of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the single dose aims to increase vaccination adherence and expand vaccination coverage. The target audience remains girls and boys aged 9 to 14, with the inclusion of priority groups, such as people with immunocompromise and victims of sexual violence, which may extend up to 45 years of age in accordance with the provisions of the National Immunization Program (PNI) .

Furthermore, the Technical Note recommends an active search by states and municipalities to ensure that young Brazilians up to the age of 19 have access to the HPV vaccine. Those within this age group who did not receive one or two doses of the vaccine within the recommended period can now benefit from the single dose.

Brazil joins 37 other countries that have already adopted this single-dose regimen, following international recommendations and seeking positive results in protecting the population against the HPV virus.

In terms of numbers, 2023 witnessed a significant increase in the number of doses of the HPV vaccine administered, reaching the highest level since 2018, with more than 6.1 million doses administered. This 42% increase compared to 2022 is attributed to the joint efforts of the Ministry of Health and local authorities in the National Vaccination Movement, reversing the downward trend in vaccination coverage.