The SAGE review concluded that a single dose of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was comparable to a two-dose vaccine and protected against HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer.
“This could be a game changer for preventing this disease; seeing more life-saving drugs reach more girls.” SAGE said in a statement.
SAGE also recommends updating the HPV dosing schedule: a one- or two-dose schedule for girls 9-14 years old; schedule one or two doses for young women aged 15-20 years; and two doses at 6-month intervals for women over 21 years of age.
“The HPV vaccine is highly effective in preventing HPV serotypes 16 & 18, which cause 70% of cervical cancers” Dr. Alejandro Cravioto, President of SAGE said.
“SAGE urges all countries to introduce the HPV vaccine and prioritize the older cohort to catch up with the larger and missed group of girls. These recommendations will enable more girls and women to gain access to the vaccine. women are more immunized and thus prevent them from getting cervical cancer and all its consequences for course in their lifetime.”
Often referred to as the ‘silent killer’ and almost entirely preventable, cervical cancer is a disease of unequal access.
More than 95% of cervical cancers are caused by sexually transmitted HPV, which is the fourth most common cancer in women globally with 90% of these women living in low- and middle-income countries. jar.
Worldwide, a cervical cancer patient kills a woman every two minutes because too many women and girls in low- and middle-income countries do not have access to these types of cancer. this vaccine. Due to the cost and limited availability of vaccines, coverage is already low in areas with the highest cervical cancer burden. Currently, only 15% of women worldwide are vaccinated against HPV.
“The option for a vaccine dose is less expensive, less resource intensive and easier to administer,” said WHO Assistant Director-General, Dr. Princess Nothemba (Nono) Simelela.
Simelela adds: “It facilitates the rollout of catch-up campaigns across multiple age groups, eases the challenges associated with tracing girls for a second dose, and allows resources to be diverted. financial and human resources to other health priorities,” added Simelela.
Source: IANS
