HPV vaccines now available for persons over 15 years

The Health Ministry has expanded access to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines to persons beyond 15 years of age, in keeping with new guidelines issued by global health authorities.

Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony explained on Friday that previously, only males and females up to 15 years of age could obtain an HPV vaccine. Now, it is widely available to older age groups amid new data and Guyana is following suit.
“There have been changes because previously, we were only offering these vaccines for persons nine to 15 years of age. But the new guidelines published by all the reputable organisations dealing with cervical cancer would have advised that we can go beyond 15 years of age. That is why we have now updated our schedule,” the Minister updated.
Depending on the age groups, different dosages are administered. For persons nine to 15 years of age, there is a single dose regimen based on PAHO/WHO recommendations. For persons 10 to 18 years of age, there is also a two-dose regimen taken six months between. Meanwhile, for persons 19 to 45 years of age, there is a three-dose course.
The Health Ministry is currently partnering with the Education Ministry to boost HPV vaccine uptake among school-aged children. This is because it can prevent some cancers from developing at a later age.
“Why this is important is that it was discovered that human papillomaviruses can actually cause different forms of cancers. You have cervical cancers, anal cancers, and oral concerns that HPV can cause. One way of preventing persons later in life from getting these cancers is to make sure they’re vaccinated,” he related.
The Health Minister pointed out that in Guyana, cervical is the second most prevalent among women, pointing at the need for action.
“We have, among women in Guyana, cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer among women. We can prevent this by ensuring that all women in Guyana get vaccinated. That’s one of the reasons we have this campaign, to educate especially young people pertaining to HPV vaccination, what it can do, what it can prevent.”
“With cervical cancer especially, HPV plays a very pivotal role in prevention and we really want people to ensure that they get vaccinated against these viruses,” he added.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a small, non-enveloped deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) virus that infects skin or mucosal cells. HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that usually shows no symptoms and goes away by itself, but can sometimes cause serious illness. HPV is responsible for almost all cases of genital warts and cervical cancer, and 90 per cent of anal cancers.
HPV vaccines offer long-lasting protection against HPV infection and therefore disease caused by HPV infection. This vaccine can also prevent vaginal and vulvar cancer. In addition, the vaccine can prevent genital warts, anal cancers, and mouth and throat cancers among others in women and men.