France intends to catch up on papillomavirus vaccination. Emmanuel Macron has just announced the generalization of vaccination campaigns in all French colleges. From the beginning of next school year, fifth graders will be able to receive the vaccine. The measure, tested for two years in the Grand-Est region, has already achieved very satisfactory results. The vaccination rate for fifth graders went from 9% to 27% in the first year and from 14% to 31% in the second year.
Nationwide, the vaccination rate is 37% for girls and only 9% for boys. This low vaccination coverage favors the circulation of the papillomavirus, which is responsible for more than 6,000 cases of cancer of the cervix, otolaryngological regions, penis or anus each year. France hopes that 80% of the affected population will be vaccinated within seven years. Consider current figures from countries like Sweden, the UK, and Australia.
The papillomavirus vaccine victim of ideas received in France
In France, this vaccine and the virus it fights are victims of received ideas that slow down the generalization of prevention and screening campaigns.
Many see it first a vaccine reserved for girls, but men are just as likely to get or pass it on. Especially since HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is also transmitted during oral sex and sometimes resists condoms. The age of vaccination is also poorly understood. Today, national vaccination campaigns are aimed at 11-14 year olds, but it is possible to catch up on vaccination up to the age of 19. Ideally, it is best to receive the vaccine before first sexual intercourse to avoid the risk of a previous infection. However, this is not essential: if the person has not contracted the virus, the vaccine will work normally.
Papillomavirus is the cause of 2% of cancers each year. It is estimated that all cervical cancers and 90% of anal cancers are caused by this infection. Currently, in France, 70% of people will be affected by this virus at least once in their life and 10% of them are still carriers of lesions after two years. By comparison, in Australia, only 1.5% of young women aged 18-24 were carriers in 2015, up from 22% in 2015.
Within 15 years, uterine cancer may even be eradicated there.
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
