HPV vaccination in Brazil reduces pre-cancerous lesion consultations

A study published in the scientific journal Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics reveals that consultations for pre-cancerous cervical lesions among adolescents in Brazil have dropped by nearly 78% following the implementation of the HPV vaccination program through the Unified Health System (SUS).

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the primary cause of cervical cancer, which often develops from untreated high-grade lesions. Since 2014, the SUS has provided the vaccine to females, expanding coverage to males in 2017. The current immunization target age is 9 to 14 years.

Data shows a significant decline in cases: in 2011, 474 adolescents aged 15 to 19 were treated for these lesions, a number that rose to 603 in 2015, before falling sharply to 299 in 2019 and 136 in 2023. The rate of consultations per 100,000 adolescents also dropped from 7.1 in 2015 to 1.8 in 2023. Researchers noted that while HPV-related lesions decreased, consultations for other sexually transmitted infections among the same age group rose from 1.7 in 2015 to 10.8 in 2023.