Published Monday, June 8, 2020
85% of girls have not yet been
vaccinated against HPV

 By  the A.M. Costa Rica  staff

Social Security reports low-participation in mandatory human papillomavirus vaccine for girls, where 85% have not yet done so.

Social Security called on the parents or caregivers of 10-year-old girls to take them to the nearest public clinic to receive the first dose of the HPV vaccine.

During this covid-19 pandemic the application of this vaccine is an essential measure of protection, according to Social Security.

Since the mandatory vaccine application began in January, only 15% coverage of the first dose has been given.

Part of the low-response to the vaccine could be that classes in schools are suspended due to the pandemic, forcing parents to go to the health centers in their communities with their daughters to apply the vaccine.

In previous years' campaigns, regulatory vaccines, such as papilloma were applied in schools. In 2019, 98.3% of 10-year-old girls applied the first dose.

The campaign for this vaccine requires two doses. The first is applied in the first semester of the school year and the second is scheduled to be applied in December, reported Social Security.

However, according to Social Security data, 20% of girls have not yet received the second application that corresponded in December 2019.

In January, Social Security commenced the papillomavirus vaccination campaign for girls who are 10 years old and who received the papillomavirus vaccine last July 2019.

According to Social Security, girls who received the first dose in June or July of last year must complete the immunization with the second dose in January 2020.

"This happens because, according to the guideline endorsed by the National Vaccination and Epidemiology Commission, six months must pass between one vaccine and another, to achieve the desired benefit: reduce the risk of getting cervical cancer," said the agency in its statement.

To receive the second dose, parents or trustees must take the girl to the nearest public clinic, and present two documents: the vaccination card with the date of application of the first dose and the identification of the girl.

According to Alejandro Calderón, researcher of the Estampa Project, some families forgot to seek the second dose, which can compromise the immunization effect of the vaccine.

According to Social Security statistics, in 2019 the first dose vaccination campaign had a coverage of 93 percent. The time for the second shot came after school let out for the year, and Social Security urged parents to take children who had the first shot to a local clinic. Many parents did not, which is why there is a new campaign.

"There were 1,227 girls missing from receiving the first of two doses, as the country's target group is 35,150 girls who turned 10 in 2019," said the Social Security in its statement.

The original plan was for girls who turned 10 after December 2020 would receive their first dose of the papillomavirus vaccine at school when it began in February.

In August 2019, the Court of Justice ruled the vaccine for the human papillomavirus was in the best interest of minors and it constituted a constitutionally legitimate purpose for the protection of public health.

In the resolution, the magistrates unanimously rejected a claim filed by a minor against the mandatory application of the HPV vaccine by the Ministry of Health.

According to the Constitutional Court, the vaccine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Advisory Committee on Immunization and Vaccination Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States, the European Medicines Regulation Agency of the World Health Organization, and the Pan American Health Organization.

According to the resolution, the Costa Rica law orders parents or trustees of 10-year-old girls to apply for the vaccine, as ordered by the Ministry of Health.



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Did you know that not complying with the basic plan of vaccination is illegal in Costa Rica?   We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com