Deal with unforeseen problems after resuming HPV vaccination

In Japan, the HPV vaccination program began in 2010 and the HPV vaccine became a routine national recommended vaccination for girls aged 12-16 in April 2013. However, the media reported cases of young girls with generalized pain disorders and movements after vaccination. In June 2013, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) announced the suspension of its recommendation for routine HPV vaccination.

Previous research conducted at Osaka University has shown that HPV vaccination hiatus would increase the risk of HPV infection and future uterine cervix cancer in patients with osteoporosis. unvaccinated girls.

Vaccination against HPV is essential to reduce the risk of infection with HPV and cancer of the cervix of the uterus; However, no report on the countermeasures to be taken for the problems expected after the resumption of HPV vaccination has been published.

Researchers at Osaka University have developed safeguards against predictable problems after resuming HPV vaccination, published in Lancet Oncology.

Every year, about 9,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 2,000 to 3,000 women die of it. HPV infection, which is transmitted primarily through badual contact, is a major factor in the development of cervical cancer.

This research group demonstrated two possible challenges after the resumption of the MHLW recommendation regarding HPV vaccination:

1. Reduce the risk of cervical cancer that will increase with the suspension of the recommendation
2. Promotion of HPV vaccination

The group discussed steps to address these issues, making the following suggestions for providing information and promoting public acceptance of the vaccine.

A. Ease of access to vaccination for women over 12 years of age and over who are normally targeted and who have not been vaccinated during the suspension of the HPV vaccination recommendation
B. Introduction of the nine valence vaccine, which can prevent 80 to 90% of cervical cancers
C. Vaccination of boys of the same age as the target girls
D. Reduced Health Damage Due to Suspension of the HPV Vaccination Recommendation by Encouraging Medical Visits and Cervical Cancer Screening
E. Promote HPV vaccination again using a behavioral economics-based approach
F. Providing the media with correct information about the HPV vaccine

Dr. Yutaka Ueda said, "The resumption of the government's recommendation for HPV vaccination will not be enough to meet the expected challenges." It is necessary to reduce the negative effects of the suspension of the HPV vaccination recommendation. We hope that our proposals will help reduce the development of cervical cancer, cancer among Japanese women and, in addition, protect the health of women. "

Source: University of Osaka