-Published: Tuesday, November 5, 2019-

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Social Security announced Monday the start of the second round of the vaccination campaign against papilloma virus for 10-year-old girls.

Parents should take girls who have already had the first dose of papilloma virus vaccine to their community clinic on Dec. 3 or thereafter to receive the second dose of the vaccine to complete their schedule, said the agency

According to Social Security, this second dose is necessary to complete the protection against the papilloma virus, which is the cause of cervical cancer, one of the most common cancers among women in the country.

This first year the vaccination is being done at two locations.  The first dose was given at school during the scheduled visits for tetanus vaccine. Now the second will be at the community clinic because in December there are no classes in schools.

According to the vaccine protocol, at least six months should lapse after the first dose to receive the second dose.

For example, girls who were vaccinated on 3 June can be vaccinated as of Dec. 3, said the agency.

According to data provided by Social Security, the coverage of the first dose reached 81% of the target group. This means that 29,450 girls received the first dose across the country.

Next year both doses will be applied at school: one at the beginning of the school year and one at the end, Social Security said in its statement.



On August, the Court of Justice, in the Constitutional Chamber, 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 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.

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.



------------------------------
What another vaccine could be included in the basic child protection system? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com