HPV: Ministry of Health includes new priority group for vaccination

People with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) become part of the priority group authorized by the Ministry of Health to receive the HPV vaccine. The measure came into force last Monday (22) and includes children and adults with the disease.

According to the Ministry of Health, the inclusion in the list of priority groups was motivated by a series of studies that demonstrated the benefits of the vaccine as a form of treatment for these patients.

Caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), respiratory papillomatosis is a rare non-cancerous (benign) tumor of the respiratory system, which can cause serious clinical and psychological impairment in those affected. The disease is characterized by the formation of warts, usually on the larynx, which can extend to other parts of the respiratory system.

As a treatment, people with RRP can remove warts from the vocal cords and larynx through surgical procedures, with the procedure having to be repeated as many times as necessary, depending on the patient’s condition. Due to the frequency of surgeries, which can vary from patient to patient, treatment can often be extremely costly, painful and even ineffective, according to the Health Ministry.

Since the development of the HPV vaccine in 2006, the use of the vaccine to help treat the disease has been evaluated. After verifying the benefits of the dose, the Department of the National Immunization Program (DPNI), of the Ministry of Health, decided to include people with RRP in the priority group for vaccination against HPV.

Single dose

As determined by the Ministry of Health, vaccination against HPV now works in a single dose, following the most recent recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Previously, the vaccine was administered in two doses.

Regarding the conditions for receiving the vaccine, the vaccine will be offered to patients with RRP only upon presentation of a medical prescription. For minors under 18, a document containing consent from parents or guardians is required.

(Under the supervision of Marcos Guedes)

This news is provided in partnership with CNN Brazil