HPV Vaccination Rates Increase in Bulgaria, But More Work Remains

This year saw a 30% increase in the number⁣ of women who were vaccinated against the human papillomavirus⁣ (HPV) compared to last year. According to​ Dr. ‌Kremena​ Parmakova from the “Control of⁢ Infectious Diseases” Department of the Ministry of Health, 3,661 women were ‌vaccinated against HPV with the first dose of the vaccine in the first⁣ eight months of 2024, up from 2,892 in 2023.

Despite this progress, there is still much ⁤work to be done. Professor Stefan Kovachev, head of the⁢ General Gynecology and⁣ Oncology Clinic at the Academy of Medical Sciences, noted that‌ the population of women eligible for⁣ HPV immunization under the national program is ⁤between 20,000 and 25,000, and the current vaccination rate is not high enough.

The Importance of HPV Vaccination

HPV ⁣is ⁣a serious public health concern in Bulgaria, with an incidence of cervical cancer of 18 ⁢per 100,000 women and over 1,000 women‍ diagnosed annually. Every day, ‌two women lose their lives ⁢as‌ a ‍result of‍ cervical‍ cancer, and every year⁣ it is the cause of death in 8-10 per 100,000 women.

However, HPV does not only affect ‍women. It also causes cancer ‌of the penis, anus, mouth, throat, and vulva, making it essential to vaccinate both⁢ sexes. Virologist Professor Radka Argirova reported that ‌diseases caused by HPV in boys are on the rise, and the next ‌step is to include boys between the ages of ​10 and 14 ‌in the national program for⁤ the period 2025-2028.

Barriers to Vaccination

Despite ‍the importance of HPV vaccination, many women ​are not getting vaccinated. GP⁤ Dr. Gergana Nikolova said that she has ‌asked‍ her patients why they refused to be vaccinated against HPV,⁤ and the answer was that they were afraid. “Quite humanly, I ask myself the​ question⁢ for what reason is the fear of the⁤ vaccine greater than⁢ the fear of cancer,” she commented.

Lily Asenova of ⁢the National Cervical Cancer Prevention Association cited data from an online survey of 200⁣ women aged 19 to 72, which found that 75% were aware that HPV can cause ‍cancer, but ‍61.5%⁤ did not know⁣ about the existence of HPV. The largest number⁣ of female participants (72.5%) ‍had never been referred by a healthcare professional ⁤for HPV testing.

Success Stories from Other Countries

Professor Stefan Kovachev presented the successful example of Australia, which ​is on its way to eliminating HPV-related diseases. Australia ‍introduced HPV vaccination​ for girls and boys in 2007, and the infection rate has decreased from 22% to 1.2%. The vaccination rate for girls is 80%, and for boys, it is around 70%.

This directly affects the ‌incidence​ of ⁣cervical cancer, and ‌the latest​ figures from Australia are 900 cases per 100,000. ‌In ​contrast, Bulgaria has a‍ population of 7.5 million people and a much higher incidence of cervical cancer.

Raising Awareness and Promoting Vaccination

To raise parents’ awareness of HPV-related diseases, the pharmaceutical company MSD is organizing an information campaign “You are ⁤a hero to ⁢your child,‌ today and forever.” The campaign aims to remind parents ‌of children between the ages of 10-13 ⁤that ⁣they are the ​ones their children rely ‌on to make the ⁤right and timely choices for their⁤ health.

As part of the campaign, ‌an information site has been created where people can learn more about HPV-related cancers, how they can​ protect themselves, and where they can get vaccinated.