WHO agency highlights relevance of HPV vaccine in cervical cancer prevention
13 febrero 2019

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an institution of the World Health Organization (WHO), stressed February 4 the importance of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in preventing cervical cancer. IARC estimates an increase in the mortality rate of this disease unless national governments foster vaccination days.

According to the agency, more than 310,000 women die annually worldwide from cervical cancer. A failure of countries’ vaccination campaigns will cause deaths to rise to 460,000 by 2040. That is why IARC director Elisabete Weiderpass said it is “an urgent need” to increase the vaccination rate to prevent the disease.

IARC statements come after the temporary suspension of vaccination campaigns in India. The reason for this is the death of a dozen young women who had been vaccinated days earlier. However, Weiderpass made it clear that these deaths are not related to the HPV vaccine.

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