Vaccinate early, screen regularly, these are the two key points of the new recommendations of the World Health Organization in the control of cervical cancer.
The human papillomavirus vaccine should be given before the onset of sexual activity. This is what the World Health Organization (WHO) recalls in a new good practice guide. Presented on December 3 at the World Cancer Summit, which is being held in Melbourne (Australia), it details the various measures to prevent cervical cancer.
Vaccination against the papillomavirus should be started from 9 years old, says the WHO in its guide. This makes it possible to reach young girls before they are sexually active. In addition, vaccinating early allows only two doses to be used, which represents a significant saving for low-income countries. The UN health agency also advises to make it a routine vaccination, which is only the case in 55 countries. These recommendations are all the more important given that Gardasil and Cervarix prevent infections by types 16 and 18 of the papillomavirus and present “an excellent safety profile. “
Screen from 30 years old
The objective of this guide, also called the “Pink book” (Pink book, editor’s note), is to better organize the prevention and control of cervical cancer. It therefore addresses secondary prevention: screening for papillomavirus must be carried out from the age of 30, underlines the WHO. After a negative result, examinations can be carried out between 5 and 10 years apart.
“We don’t have a magic bullet, but the combination of the most effective and accessible tools to prevent and treat cervical cancer will help ease the burden on tight budgets, especially in low-income countries. income, and make a strong contribution to the elimination of cervical cancer, ”explains Dr Nathalie Broutet, WHO expert on the prevention and control of cervical cancer. All the more so since the measures recommended in this guide can be easily integrated into existing health systems.
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