2023-10-23 21:07:00
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection. To prevent it, vaccines are applied (Getty)
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV, or HPV) is a family of viruses that can affect the skin, the mouth area, the genital or anal area. The so-called “high-risk” HPVs can cause cell alteration, generating precancerous lesions, which over time can evolve and become cancer, such as that of the cervix, penis, anus, mouth and throat.
There are vaccines that protect against HPV infection, which prevent the development of associated diseases, such as genital warts and cancers, if the person is exposed to infection by the pathogen. It is known that 80% of the sexually active population can contract it.
In Argentina, doses against HPV had been incorporated into the National Vaccination Calendar in 2011 to reduce the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer for a group of people. Days ago, the National Ministry of Health expanded the group of people who have access to free immunization.
People between 11 and 26 years old who have these diseases may also receive the doses: systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, dermatomyositis and other autoimmune conditions in plan to receive immunosuppressive drugs.
In Argentina, now people between 11 and 26 years old who have systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, dermatomyositis and other autoimmune conditions who plan to receive immunosuppressive drugs can also receive the HPV vaccine (WHO)
The scheme – it was clarified in a memorandum from the Health Ministry – is 3 doses (0, 2 and 6 months). It is ideally considered that the complete regimen should be received before starting immunosuppression.
Originally, the vaccine was intended for 11-year-old women born after the year 2000. In 2014, people living with HIV and transplant recipients between 11 and 26 years old were added to the vaccination strategy. In 2017, 11-year-old boys born after 2006 were added.
Now, then, coverage was expanded to people with autoimmune diseases by taking into account scientific evidence, international recommendations, and the recommendation of the National Immunization Commission (CoNaIn) of Argentina.
The WHO has reported that the vaccine serves to prevent warts and cancers associated with the human papillomavirus (Getty Images)
Condoms help prevent HPV but do not offer complete protection because they do not cover all the skin in the genital area, according to the World Health Organization. Therefore, he pointed out that cancers due to HPV can be prevented with vaccines.
“The vaccine does not contain any live virus or virus DNA. Therefore, it cannot cause cancer or other HPV-related diseases. The vaccine is not used to treat infections or diseases caused by HPV, but to prevent the appearance of cancer,” the United Nations health agency clarified.
5% of HPV infections do not go away on their own and become persistent. In some cases they can lead to cancer (Getty)
HPV is transmitted from one person to another through skin-to-skin contact during sexual intercourse. The virus is not contracted by using toilets, sharing cutlery or in the pool. In 2018, there were about 43 million HPV infections, many of them among people in their late teens and early 20s, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Most of the time, HPV infection does not present obvious symptoms and the immune system is responsible for controlling it spontaneously. In general, low-risk HPVs cause warts on the genitals or anus. While those at high risk do not usually show symptoms.
A person with HPV can transmit the infection to another person even when they do not have signs or symptoms. According to the Huésped Foundation, having HPV does not mean that an injury will develop. It is estimated that only 5% of infections due to this virus do not disappear on their own and become persistent.
Only if the infection persists for many years (it is estimated 5 to 10 years), high oncogenic risk HPVs can cause lesions in the cervix that can progress to cancer.
The doses protect against human papillomaviruses (HPV) with a high risk of causing cancer (Getty)
The HPV vaccine is available for prioritized groups in public vaccination centers in all provinces of Argentina.
If there are questions, you can consult the toll-free number 0800-222-1002, which is the number of the National Ministry of Health. In option 5, they advise on the National Vaccination Calendar.
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