Yucatán Expands HPV Vaccine Campaign to Include Boys, Reaching 47,000 in First Phase
Mérida, Yucatán – in a landmark move to broaden cancer prevention efforts, the Yucatán ministry of Health has launched a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign that, for the first time, includes boys. Previously, since the program’s implementation in 2012, the vaccine was only offered to girls.
Alejandro Díaz Sánchez, state-responsible for universal vaccination in Yucatán health services, confirmed the expansion, stating the response from parents and students has been “favorable.” The campaign aims to administer 47,000 doses through December 19th as part of a national strategy to combat HPV-related cancers and diseases.
The initial focus is on fifth-year students, typically around 11 years old. “Knowing that the human papillomavirus is the most frequent sexually transmitted infection, and there are some types that are associated with cervical cancer,” explained Díaz Sánchez, underscores the importance of early vaccination.
Beyond the school-based rollout, the Ministry is also targeting specific populations. Adolescent women aged 12 to 16 who haven’t previously been vaccinated, girls aged 9 to 19 who have experienced sexual assault, and individuals aged 11 to 49 living with HIV are all eligible.
The vaccine is a single-dose regimen, meaning a completed vaccination schedule is achieved with just one shot. Authorities are working closely with the Ministry of Education to schedule vaccination visits in schools.
Non-school aged boys and girls who are 11 years old, and also individuals in the identified risk groups, can request the free vaccine at their nearest health unit. Díaz Sánchez encourages parents to authorize vaccination for their children, emphasizing the “essential protection” it provides.
