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
complaint, in international
information sources, she
discovered that the vaccine
could cause severe secondary
effects.
As a response, the
Constitutional Court ruled
that the vaccine was approved
by:
- United States 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.
- The Pan American
Health Organization.
Also, before the
Constitutional Court's ruling,
the Ministry of Health reported
that "the vaccine has been
scientifically evaluated and the
benefits of using the vaccine
far outweigh the risk."
According to ministry
authorities, a minor's health
conditions, such as allergies
and bronchial problems, do not
interfere with the
application of the vaccine.
Finally, the ruling
states that health institutions
develop an informational
campaign to explain the plan to
immunize against HPV.
According to the
resolution of the Constitutional
Chamber, the law orders parents
or guardians of 10-year-old
girls to apply for the vaccine,
as ordered by the Ministry of
Health.
On April,
Román Macaya- Hayes,
president of Social Security,
announced a lot of more than
35,000 vaccine doses against
the papilloma-virus that
causes cervical cancer, as
A.M. Costa Rica reported.
The vaccination
campaign contemplates applying
two doses for each minor with
a period of six months between
both doses. The plan intends
to vaccinate 35,015 girls who
turn 10 this year.
Macaya-Hayes says that this
vaccination campaign will
reduce the mortality
associated with cervical
cancer. "As parents, we should
be aware that cervical cancer
is avoidable in a large
percentage of cases and this
vaccine is an instrument of
protection," he said.
According to Dr. Macaya in the
world, 270 million doses have
already been applied in
different countries, which has
been strictly monitored for
quality, safety, and efficacy.
"We can say that it is an
effective and safe vaccine and
it is good news for women in
Costa Rica," he said.
This vaccine was included in
the basic Social Security
vaccination list, so it is the
parents' obligation to keep
the children with the vaccines
up to date, as the court said.
Most HPV infections cause no
symptoms and resolve
spontaneously. In some people,
an HPV infection persists and
results in warts or
precancerous lesions. The
precancerous lesions increase
the risk of cancer of the
cervix, vulva, vagina, penis,
anus, mouth, or throat.
Nearly all cervical cancer is
due to HPV with two types,
HPV16 and HPV18. They account
for 70 percent of cases.
Between 60 percent and 90
percent of the other cancers
mentioned above are also
linked to HPV.
HPV6 and HPV11 are common
causes of genital warts and
laryngeal papillomatosis.
