Low coverage of HPV vaccination and increased risk of preventable cancers

The decline in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage in recent years poses a real threat to the health of millions of young Brazilians and may lead to an increase in preventable infections and cancers in the future, the Ministry of Health (Ms.) warns.

In 2019, 87.08% of Brazilian girls between the ages of 9 and 14 received their first dose of the vaccine. In 2022, coverage has decreased to 75.81%. The numbers are also alarming among boys: vaccination coverage fell from 61.55% in 2019 to 52.16% in 2022.

know more: Quiz: Test your knowledge about HPV

The results are far from the goal of the volume to prevent diseases caused by human papillomavirus. Vaccination of adolescents is practiced in more than 120 countries, many of which already have studies with positive results in preventing and reducing disease caused by the virus.

Since 2014, the Unified Health System (SUS) has offered the HPV vaccine to children and adolescents to prevent types 6, 11, 16 and 18, which are the most common among the Brazilian population.

In 2020, the country has included the WHO initiative to eliminate cervical cancer in the world through three actions: vaccination against HPV, screening and treatment for precancerous lesions and management of invasive cervical cancer.

Low coverage of HPV vaccination and increased risk of preventable cancers

Goals of the Ministry of Health until 2030

Achieving 90% immunization coverage for girls up to 15 years of age;

Achieving 70% screening coverage with a high performance test (at age 35 and again at age 45);
Achieving a 90% cure rate for women with pre-cancerous disease and for women with invasive cancer.

These measures are expected to prevent 70 million cases of cervical cancer this century. Currently, immunization is offered to young people, due to the high efficacy of the vaccine for this age group, as it stimulates the production of antibodies.

According to data from the National Cancer Institute (Inca), global studies show that 80% of sexually active women will be infected with one or more types of HPV at some point in their lives, and this percentage can be even higher in men.

It is estimated that between 25% and 50% of the female population and 50% of the male population worldwide are infected with HPV.

The importance of full immunization against human papilloma virus

Vaccination is a safe and effective option for preventing HPV infection, offered free by SUS to girls and boys ages 9 to 14, as well as women and men ages 15 to 45 with HIV/AIDS, transplant recipients and cancer patients. .

Children and adolescents 9 to 14 years of age should receive the 2-dose schedule;
Adolescents who receive the first dose of this vaccine between the ages of 9 and 14 can take the second dose even if the recommended period exceeds six months, so as not to miss the opportunity to complete the vaccination schedule;

Women and men with HIV/AIDS, a solid organ transplant, a bone marrow transplant or cancer patients between the ages of 9 and 45 receive a three-dose schedule.

“Vaccination campaigns are one of the most effective resources in disease control, making the process simpler. However, it is also necessary to ensure a continuous supply of vaccines to the population, and not just during campaign periods. Physicians should talk to patients and officials about the benefits of full immunization, in addition to Fight against fake news and help empower the population, ”says infectious disease scientist Raisa de Moraes Berlinjero, specialist at the Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectionology / Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (INI / Fiocruz) and editor of PebMed, in an interview with the portal.

Also read: WHO issues recommendations for HPV vaccination schedule

According to the expert, the most difficult age group to be reached by vaccination campaigns is minors, who often have not initiated sexual activity (precisely for this reason they are the population that benefits most from the vaccine). This is because they are individuals who depend on their guardians to accompany them to the health centre.

In addition, they still do not appreciate the threat of HPV as a problem because it is something far advanced, far removed from their momentary reality. Not to mention all the misinformation about the negative effects that this vaccine (and others) may have,” Raisa Berlingero noted.

This article has been reviewed by the medical team at PEBMED portal.