HPV vaccine: one dose for young people

One dose of the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine, which causes uterine cancer and some anal cancers, provides similar protection to two doses for those under 21, the committee said (April 11). World Health Organization (WHO) experts on vaccine policy. Cancers of the cervix are almost always caused by a sexually transmitted infection, the papillomavirus, recalls AFP. Since the mid-2000s, vaccines have been available once morest the different strains of HPV. In the light of the latest data, the WHO expert committee now believes that a single dose is sufficient to protect 9-14 year olds and also 15-20 year olds, instead of the two doses previously recommended. . These new recommendations should allow a greater number of girls and women to be vaccinated, “while maintaining the necessary level of protection”, indicated the chairman of the committee, Dr Alejandro Cravioto, at a press conference. National immunization programs can, however, continue to use two doses if they deem it necessary, he said. In addition, WHO experts continue to recommend two doses six months apart for women over 21 years of age. “As for immunocompromised people, mainly people with HIV, we recommend giving them at least two, or even three doses, so that they are fully immunized,” said Alejandro Cravioto. More than 340,000 women died from cervical cancer in 2020. It is the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. Around 90% of new cases and deaths worldwide in 2020 occurred in low- and middle-income countries. “This single dose recommendation has the potential to move us faster towards our goal of having 90% of girls immunized by the age of 15 by 2030,” said Dr Princess Nothemba Simelela, under – Director General of the WHO. In 2020, global coverage with a two-dose vaccination schedule was only 13%. According to the WHO, several factors have influenced the slow introduction of the vaccine and the low vaccination coverage in some countries, including supply difficulties, the relatively high costs of the vaccine, as well as difficulties in administering the vaccine. two doses to adolescent girls who are not usually included in childhood immunization programs. “The single dose option of the vaccine is less expensive, less resource intensive and easier to administer,” summarized Dr Princess Nothemba Simelela.