Why WHO recommends routine HPV vaccination for girls

Dr Uzoma Ugochukwu, a Public Health Specialist, says the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that routine Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination should be included in immunisation programmes.

Ugochukwu, who is also a consultant for the vaccine uptake project, said this on Saturday in Abuja, during a seminar for health journalists on its “Enhancing HPV Vaccine Awareness and Uptake in Nigeria”.

According to him, for the prevention of cervical cancer, the WHO- recommended primary target population for HPV vaccination is girls aged nine years to 14 years, before becoming sexually active.

“The initial vaccination of multiple cohorts of girls aged nine years to 14 years is recommended.

“HPV types 6 and 11 cause about 90 per cent of anogenital warts, 528,000 cases of cervical cancer and 266,000 women deaths each year,” he said.

He said that 85 per cent of cases were in less developed regions.

The consultant said that three prophylactic, highly efficacious vaccines were available.

NAN