This Monday, June 3, 2019, Costa Rica kicked off the first ever vaccination campaign to protect young girls against Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection and some types lead to cervix cancer, the vaccine is now part of the national vaccination program and will be applied free of charge by social security to 10-year-old girls.
Cervical cancer is the fifth most common form of cancer among women and the sixth in mortality. “Today as parents we have the possibility to protect our girls”, commented the Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Salas, “the vaccine is obligatory, and therefore, the state, along with the child welfare agency PANI and the Public Force, has the authority to act in the event that any parent, after receiving the necessary information, refuses to vaccinate their daughter”.
According to information by the Costa Rican Social Security Agency (CCSS) a new case of cervical cancer is diagnosed daily and every three days a woman dies from this illness.
The campaign will cover a total of 35,150 girls in the entire country in two dosages, the first dose will be applied in schools and parents will be informed ahead of time, the second dose must be applied in the different local public health clinics (EBAIS) since children will be on vacation.
The vaccine protects against HPV types 6,11,16 and 18.
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection and some types lead to cervix cancer, the vaccine is now part of the national vaccination program and will be applied free of charge by social security to 10-year-old girls.
Cervical cancer is the fifth most common form of cancer among women and the sixth in mortality. “Today as parents we have the possibility to protect our girls”, commented the Minister of Health, Dr. Daniel Salas, “the vaccine is obligatory, and therefore, the state, along with the child welfare agency PANI and the Public Force, has the authority to act in the event that any parent, after receiving the necessary information, refuses to vaccinate their daughter”.
According to information by the Costa Rican Social Security Agency (CCSS) a new case of cervical cancer is diagnosed daily and every three days a woman dies from this illness.
The campaign will cover a total of 35,150 girls in the entire country in two dosages, the first dose will be applied in schools and parents will be informed ahead of time, the second dose must be applied in the different local public health clinics (EBAIS) since children will be on vacation.
The vaccine protects against HPV types 6,11,16 and 18.
