A new protocol from the Ministry of Health specifies a single dose for the human papillomavirus vaccine National newspaper

Prevention of Cervical cancer It just got a lot easier. Hey New protocol Ministry of Health I started to predict One dose For the human papillomavirus vaccine.

Natalia is 10 years old and has already received two doses of the HPV vaccine. The mother shows the entire notebook.

“Such a simple vaccine, which has no side effects, is free. However, there is no reaction at all. “So, I only saw the benefits, I didn't see any downsides,” says banker Adriana Rubel.

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

Human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted virus, is associated with more than… 90% Of the cases of cervical cancer – the third most common tumor among women. So far, SUS has administered two doses. no more.

The Ministry of Health decided to follow the recommendations Global Health Organization And from Pan American Health Organization. Therefore, from now on, the vaccination schedule will contain only one dose. According to the organizations One dose It already provides significant protection against HPV, which can lead to increased adherence to vaccination Vaccination coverage And help fight cervical cancer.

“It is the same vaccine, but one dose has been shown to protect, a strategy already used in 37 countries. “So, Brazil is not alone in this process, we make these decisions in the national immunization program, and we always listen to this scientific committee,” says the Minister of Health. , Nesia Trinidad.

The Department of Health also wants states and municipalities to implement a Active search Young people up to age 19 who have not yet received any dose of the vaccine so they can be up to date on their vaccination. The Brazilian Immunization Association considers this initiative essential.

“The more people are vaccinated, the less the virus spreads. A vaccinated person neither becomes infected nor transmits it. The idea is that we can scale up this vaccination, lower the prevalence rates as much as possible, and you will have less disease,” explains Monica Levy, president of the Brazilian Society of Immunizations. , fewer infected people, and less disease.