HPV Vaccination Considered Important For Children Grades 5 And 6 Elementary School: To Prevent Cervical Cancer

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - It is important to give human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for children aged 5 and 6 elementary schools to prevent cervical cancer, said the Head of the Sub-Directorate of Cancer and Blood Disorders of the Ministry of Health, dr. Aldrin Neilwan Panca Putra.

"To prevent cervical cancer, we must prevent the entry of the HPV virus," said Aldrin in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Saturday, August 6.

This vaccination is good for elementary school children who have not been sexually active. In addition, children have a better immune system than adults.

The HPV vaccine was given to students in grades 5 and 6 of elementary school and was given twice.

The HPV vaccine is a primary prevention so that a woman is not infected with HPV and has recently been established by the Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, as one of the mandatory vaccinations for adolescents. The HPV vaccine will be useful for the body to form antibodies to fight the virus so it doesn't get infected.

This vaccine can be given from girls to women aged 10-45 years who have not been sexually active. The dose in those aged 10-13 years is twice, namely at month 0 and month 6. Meanwhile, for women aged 13 years and over, it is recommended to give three doses, namely the 0th month, 1st or 2nd month and 6th month.

Meanwhile, for women who have been sexually active, the HPV vaccine can be injected if the individual has not been infected with HPV and did not have cervical cancer before receiving the vaccine.

The Ministry of Health has included the HPV vaccine as a mandatory vaccine in the national immunization program, targeting female students in grades 5 and 6 of elementary school/equivalent.

In addition, the Ministry of Health is targeting this year to expand HPV vaccination in eight provinces that are included in the "Indonesian Cancer Control Roadmap 2022-2040".