Initially, it will be applied to a universe of 68,524 nine-year-old girls, taking into account the following scheme: one dose of 0.5 milliliters intramuscularly, and two doses in girls diagnosed with some immunodeficiency disease, explained Dr. Lena López, head of the National Immunization Program.

The coverage objective is equal to or greater than 95 percent, and the goal is to achieve the elimination of cervical cancer (related to HPV), with less than four cases in 100,000 women per year, she explained.

The realization of the immunity campaign will be possible thanks to the joint efforts of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, the Ministry of Public Health and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), as was revealed at the national workshop on cervical cancer control held at the end of January.

According to Dr. Miguel González, advisor at the PAHO/WHO Representation, vaccination against HPV is one of the measures that are part of the global initiative for the elimination of cervical cancer, along with early detection and access to treatment.

Looking ahead to 2030, globally, the goal is to be able to vaccinate 90 percent of girls, detect lesions early in 70 percent of women and apply treatment to 90 percent of patients, he said.

Data from the National Cancer Registry show that in Cuba one in five people die from cancer and one in three people who die between the ages of 30 and 69 is due to that cause.

According to this source, more than 53 thousand cases are diagnosed annually and the trend is to increase, while the number of deaths from this cause, although it has not increased over the years.

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