On Monday, Dr. Douglas Lowy, Deputy Director of the National Cancer Institute, was invited by Social Security to begin the first vaccination campaign against Papillomavirus in Costa Rica.
 
Papillomaviruses are associated with benign and malignant tumors in humans and animals. A subset of human papillomavirus (HPV) types is responsible for virtually all cases of cervical cancer, which is the third most common cancer among women worldwide, as well as for many cases of anal, vulvar, vaginal, penile, and oropharyngeal cancer.

Dr. Douglas Lowy said that at the Center for Disease Control in the United States, “after surveillance -107 million women have been vaccinated-there is no sign of safety failures of this vaccine against the Papillomaviruses."

In addition, Dr. Lowy said that the evidence from the studies maintains that two doses are necessary to provide protection from the virus.

At the conference, President Alvarado said that, "in the country we have the human talent to move towards the development of opportunities in health sciences, whether applied science, such as the rise of medical companies in the country or in scientific research to enrich public welfare, such as the case of the Papillomaviruses vaccine."

The conference was held on the occasion of the launching of the Papillomaviruses vaccine as part of the basic schedule of Social Security Immunizations Programs, planned to protect girls who turn 10 during 2019.

Under the title, "Recent developments and research priorities to promote the prevention and treatment of cancer," the almost one thousand attendees learned about the relationship between the Papillomaviruses and cancer, the impact of this disease in the country and the efficacy and safety of the vaccine.

According to Social Security specialists, the vaccine has no effect on infections that already exist so it is recommended that it be given to girls between the ages of 9 and 14 before they can come in contact with the virus.