More than 68 thousand girls in Cuba begin to receive a dose of the vaccine against the coronavirus starting this Monday Human Papillomavirus (HPV)which is officially incorporated into the national vaccination scheme, reported the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP).
This group will be administered 0.5 mL intramuscularly, while girls with immunodeficient diseases will receive two doses of the preparation.
According to Latin Pressthe goal is protect them against cervical cancer, one of the main causes of cancer death in women worldwide.
The vaccine Cecolindeveloped by the Chinese company Innovax, protects against serotypes 16 and 18 of the virus, responsible for approximately seven out of ten cases of this type of cancer.
The immunogen has prequalification from the World Health Organization (WHO) and It has been proven to be safe and effective.
Primary schools throughout the country will function as temporary vaccination centers, in coordination with municipal health directorates, to facilitate access to the immunization process.
According to pharmacist Dagmar García, immunizing girls from the age of nine is more effective, since the vaccine reaches its greatest effectiveness before exposure to the virus.
He also recalled that almost all sexually active people will be infected with some type of HPV throughout their lives, and that a persistent infection can generate cellular changes in the cervix that, over time, become cancer.
A strategy aligned with global objectives
Vaccination against HPV is part of the global initiative for the elimination of cervical cancer promoted by the WHO and PAHO.
This initiative establishes the 90-70-90 strategy for 2030: vaccinate 90% of girls, detect lesions early in 70% of women and guarantee treatment for 90% of diagnosed patients.
With the incorporation of Cecolin, Cuba expands its National Immunization Program, which annually administers more than 4.8 million doses of 13 types of vaccinesaimed at preventing 13 communicable diseases.
Of these immunobiologicals, eight are nationally produced, and the rest, like Cecolin, are imported.
After more than six decades of application, The program has managed to eliminate six diseases—polio, diphtheria, measles, whooping cough, rubella, and mumps—in addition to severe clinical forms and serious complications such as neonatal tetanus, tuberculous meningitis and congenital rubella syndrome.
The introduction of the HPV vaccine into the national scheme reinforces the country’s commitment to early prevention and protection of children’s health.
