Global studies have shown that vaccinating young children can prevent more than 90% of adult-associated cancers, making HPV vaccination a crucial public health measure…
Monaco Health Minister Christophe Robino is determined to increase vaccination of adolescents against the human papillomavirus (HPV), with the aim of vaccinating 80% of boys and girls aged 11 to 14. This initiative is part of a broader prevention effort in the future. virus-related cancers, which can lead to cervical cancer in women and other forms of cancer in men, including those affecting the ENT region, skin and digestive tract.
The ultimate goal, according to Robino, is to eliminate certain types of cancer in Monaco within twenty years, providing future generations with a safer and healthier environment.
The Principality launched its first school vaccination campaign last year, reaching a participation rate of 30 to 40%. While this was seen as a positive start, Robino highlights the need for increased education and awareness to encourage more parents to vaccinate their children. “It’s not about forcing people,” he explains, “but about making sure they understand that HPV is a chronic infection that can remain latent for decades before leading to cancer. »
The new campaign, which will begin soon, offers free vaccinations for adolescents, with the possibility of catching up until the age of 19. The Minister of Health would like to highlight the improved safety and effectiveness of modern vaccines, which are now highly purified and rigorously tested. tested. “Vaccination is not without risk, no treatment is. But it remains the best tool we have to prevent certain cancers,” says Dr. Robino.
