-Published: Wednesday, December 18, 2019-




By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

Social Security announced the start of the Stamp Project to determine the best method to detect cervical disease before it fully develops.  The study will involved 10,000 women volunteers.

According to Social Security, at least 50,000 women from 30 to 64 years old in Latin America are needed for the development of the project, of which 10,000 will be chosen among residents of the Pacific coast, "the area with the highest mortality due to cervical cancer in the country. "

So far 6,000 women have been chosen, and Social Security continues seeking more volunteers in the communities.

According to Alejandro Calderón, a Costa Rican researcher, Costa Rica has achieved the lowest mortality rate in Latin America.

According to Social Security, three strategies have been developed to eliminate cervical cancer:

- Campaigns to vaccinate 90% of women before age 15.

- 70% of the population has been tested for papillomavirus.

- 90% of women identified with cervical injury receive treatment and care.

Authorities are inviting residents living in the Pacific Central Coast to join the study as volunteers. The study will be concluded in 2022.

The cervix is the lower part of the uterus, the place where a baby grows during pregnancy. Cervical cancer is caused by a virus called human papillomavirus.


This month, Social Security started the second round of the vaccination campaign against papillomavirus for 10-year-old girls.

Parents whose girls already had the first dose of papillomavirus vaccine are being asked to take them to their community clinic 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 papillomavirus, 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 the tetanus vaccine. Now the second will be at the community clinics 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.

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.

In August, the Constitutional Court 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.

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.




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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