For the first time, girls between the ages of 10 and 13 will receive the HPV vaccine with a single dose in La Paz

Every year, we have around 20,000 girls who must receive their vaccines, but since 2020 they have not attended the campaigns, because “many associated it with the Covid one.”

In 2017, this vaccine was introduced for the first time in Bolivia and it was then that the vaccine was applied to girls between the ages of 10 and 12. However, this year it was extended to 13, because a large percentage of girls did not receive the vaccine due to the pandemic.

That is why this year 45,000 doses for the same number of girls in the fixed age population. “For this year we should have some 25,000 girls who receive the dose, but due to the accumulation of infants who did not receive their dose, now the number of susceptible population has grown to 45,000.”

In addition, he reported that starting this year, girls will receive a single dose of this inoculant.

“Until last year, the vaccine was applied with two doses, but now only once, because the National and International Immunization Committees have certified that a single dose guarantees 95% immunization,” he remarked.

What is the HPV vaccine?

The HPV vaccine helps stimulate the immune system in the body of the population that received the dose to attack and destroy cells infected with the virus, preventing this population from acquiring cervical cancer.

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), there is a variety of serotypes of the virus, but 16 and 18 are the cause of 70% of cases of cervical cancer.

Both serotypes are the ones that circulate the most in Bolivia, according to a study carried out by the Ministry of Health with the CIES Sexual and Reproductive Health.

“The vaccine is especially effective in women who have never had sexual intercourse and, therefore, have not been exposed to the virus,” indicates a WHO report.

For the director of the Headquarters, Prisley Riveros, this vaccine is essential to reduce the mortality of the female population due to cervical cancer in the future.

“Currently, every day between three and four women die from this disease,” he recalled.

For this reason, all the 58 health centers in El Alto and the more than 60 in La Paz, in addition to those throughout the rural area, will be able to vaccinate the population starting this Monday and throughout the year.

In addition, the Secretary of Health of the city of El Alto, Saúl Calderón, indicated that this vaccination will also be carried out house by house and in all educational units where there is a susceptible population.

“We are launching 120 brigades that will travel to the 14 districts of the city,” Calderón said. He assured that the mobile brigades that will go to the rural districts are also activated.

Likewise, it plans to go to educational units to apply these doses. “The campaign will be aggressive and massive.”

He explained that the goal is to vaccinate 5,400 girls: 5,000 in the city and 400 in rural districts.