11-year-old girls can now be vaccinated against the papillomavirus (HPV), the virus responsible for the majority cervical cancer. While this preventive measure was recommended around the age of 14, the National Cancer Institute (INCa) preferred to advance this age by three years in the new vaccination schedule, made public on April 16.
“Vaccination of young girls is recommended between 11 and 14 years old. In addition, catch-up vaccination is now recommended until the age of 20 (over 19), vaccination being all the more effective than young girls. have not yet been exposed to the risk of HPV infection, “says the Ministry of Health on its website.
Among other things, INCa advises women between 25 and 65 years old, whether they have been vaccinated or not, to carry out a smear every three years in order to protect themselves effectively against this cancer which affects around 3,000 French women per year. “The smear makes it possible to detect precancerous and cancerous lesions of the cervix and thus to treat this cancer earlier, or even to prevent its appearance”, explains the institute in a press release.
INCa reminds that smears should not stop at menopause, even in the absence of sexual intercourse, because the anomalies linked to HPV evolve slowly. Moreover, an information radio campaign on cervical cancer screening will be launched in June, accompanied by the dissemination of information documents on the smear.
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