HPV is completely preventable with regular screening and vaccination.
In his written statement, Prof. Dr. Buyru stated that HPV causes infections and some cancers in both men and women, noting that more than 200 types of HPV have been identified.
Buyru stated that the virus, which can cause serious diseases such as genital warts, cervical cancer and throat cancer, is transmitted through sexual contact, and emphasized that the vaccine developed against HPV in 2006 provides effective protection against the nine most common types of HPV today.
Buyru stated that countries that have included the HPV vaccine in their routine vaccination programs have seen a significant decrease in viral illnesses, and that the vaccine, which will be developed against the two most common strains of the virus in Türkiye, will be included in the vaccination program starting at the end of this year and will be administered free of charge to children aged 13 and older.
"ALMOST ALL OF THESE DISEASES ARE PREVENTABLE"Buyru emphasized that almost all of these diseases can be prevented through preventive measures and vaccination. He said, "The HPV vaccine has been administered free of charge in many countries for years. In our country, it is currently available for a fee. However, the Ministry of Health's goal of domestic production and free vaccination is a very valuable development. Administering the vaccine before sexual activity begins ensures a stronger immune response. The vaccine is administered in two doses for individuals under 15 and three doses for individuals older. Initially, it was recommended only for those aged 27, but it is now accepted that it can be administered to those aged 47 and provides immunity."
Professor Dr. Buyru pointed out that HPV can be eliminated, saying: "The HPV vaccine has been administered to millions of people to date, and no serious side effects have been identified. The most important advantage of the HPV vaccine is that it provides nearly 100% protection when administered before exposure to the virus. Therefore, if it can be implemented on a population-wide scale, HPV can be eliminated, just as smallpox was. Cervical cancer is more common in developing countries. The main reason for this is the lack of adequate screening programs."
"WE CAN COMPLETELY ERASE THEM FROM SOCIETY"In Türkiye, we can completely eradicate this disease from society by expanding vaccination and increasing screening. HPV screening programs are as important as vaccination. The HPV screening conducted by the Ministry of Health at Family Health Centers and KETEMs is extremely valuable. If HPV is not detected in this test, which involves taking a sample from a woman's cervix, retesting is unnecessary for five years. This both increases patient comfort and reduces the burden on the healthcare system.
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