JawaPos.com – Cervical cancer is the only cancer that can be prevented by vaccine. This is because the disease is caused by the HPV or Human Papillomavirus. South African scientist and doctor and Head of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital, USA, dr. Ruanne Barnabas, found evidence that single-dose Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination was effective in preventing the incidence of HPV infection.
As part of the 2022 World Immunization Week, to News-Medical, dr. Ruanne Barnabas reveals research about the study she did. One of them is that there is hope that cervical cancer can be eliminated as a public health burden in the next few years.
“It is very rare in medicine that we have a silver bullet, but the Human Papillomavirus vaccine is a silver bullet. This is an almost perfect vaccine that almost completely prevents infection and prevents progression to cervical cancer. It has a huge effect across the population,” he explained.
He has seen a reduction in genital warts. He hopes that in countries with high vaccination coverage, cervical cancer will be eliminated as a disease burden.
“There is also very good evidence that a single dose has very high efficacy,” said dr. Ruanne Barnabas.
Another main inspiration, he said, was how terrible cervical cancer was. The disease is often diagnosed late. Often requires surgery and chemotherapy.
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