Brazil expands HPV vaccine access for young victims of sexual violence

The Brazilian Ministry of Health has issued a technical note recommending the HPV vaccine for children as young as two years old who are victims of sexual violence. This expands the previous age range of 9 to 45 years for this specific group.

In Manaus, the municipal health department has already implemented this measure. Vaccination for these children will require an evaluation by the Service for the Care of Victims of Sexual Violence (Savvis) or responsible health professionals, along with legal guardian consent. The protocol involves a single dose. Officials clarified that the vaccine is not a post-exposure intervention to treat existing infections but serves to protect against types of the virus not yet acquired and to prevent future exposures.

The decision follows a significant rise in sexual violence reports among young children. Data indicates that cases in the 0 to 4 age group quadrupled over a ten-year period. The Ministry of Health emphasized that HPV is a major public health issue linked to various cancers, including cervical, anal, and penile cancers, as well as genital warts.