The fight against the papillomavirus is becoming a priority for the American health authorities. They recommend the vaccination of adolescents, boys or girls, from 11 or 12 years old.
American health authorities have just declared war on papillomaviruses. According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HPV (human papillomaviruses) were over the four years between 2012 and 2016 the cause of an average of 34,800 cases of cancer each year.
These sexually transmitted viruses cause cancer in both men and women. Cervix, vagina, penis, anus, larynx are affected.
“It is necessary to act quickly”
“A future free of HPV-related cancers is within reach, but rapid action is needed to improve vaccination rates,” Deputy Health Minister Brett Giroir said on August 22.
He wants to achieve 80% vaccination coverage against human papillomaviruses in the United States. Vaccination rates are progressing only very slowly among American adolescents: only 51% of them received the recommended doses in 2018, only 2% more than the previous year.
The American authorities consider that a better followed vaccination would make it possible to avoid 92% of cancers linked to papillomaviruses.
