WHO says HPV vaccine is safe and essential

More than 300,000 women die each year as a result of the disease, especially in low- and middle-income countries – GETTY IMAGES / AFP / Archives

(HPV) is "safe and indispensable for eliminating cervical cancer," health officials said Monday.

"Unsupported rumors about HPV vaccines continue to delay or unnecessarily prevent the increase in immunization, which is essential for the prevention of cervical cancer of the uterus" , said Elisabete Weiderpbad, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer CIIC)

The center is connected to the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to IARC data, in 2018 nearly 570,000 new cases of cervical cancer have been diagnosed worldwide.

More than 300,000 women die each year from this disease, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

"This is the fourth most common type of cancer in women," IARC said. The organization estimates that if prevention does not increase, the disease can cause 460,000 deaths annually by 2040.