Washington (AFP)
Vaccination could prevent 92% of cancers related to human papillomavirus (HPV), said Thursday the US health authorities, which makes it one of their priorities.
"A future without HPV-related cancers is within our reach, but it is necessary to act quickly to improve immunization rates," said Brett Giroir, Deputy Minister of Health, who wants to reach 80% vaccination coverage in the States United States against human papillomaviruses.
According to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HPV has caused an average of 34,800 cancer cases each year between 2012 and 2016 in the country.
Viruses, sexually transmitted, can cause cancer in women and men, cervix, vagina, penis, anus or larynx.
Health authorities recommend that all preadolescents be vaccinated against HPV before exposure, at the age of 11 or 12 years.
But vaccination rates are progressing very slowly among American teenagers. Only 51% of them received all recommended doses, which is only 2% more than in 2017.
© 2019 AFP