LGUs urged to shift funds towards HPV vaccines

With most Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines being expensive, a doctor recommended for local government units (LGUs) to allocate funds that will cover the expenses in HPV vaccines.

Dr. Ourlad Tantengco, a community physician of DEFEAT HPV Study, emphasized the important role of the government in strengthening campaigns against Human Papillomavirus that causes cervical cancer.

“The LGUs have the power to decide on the health programs that they have in their municipalities, so I hope that LGUs can consider funding,” the doctor said, adding that there are LGUs who covered the cost of HPV vaccinations.

“If other LGUs can do it, for sure, other LGUs can also do it; the political will is very important,” Tantengco added.

The price of an HPV vaccine usually starts around P 4,000.

Last January, the Department of Health (DOH) said that they are partnering with the Department of Education to inoculate elementary-aged female students.

HPV Strains

Tantengco said their team observed a shift in the prevalence of HPV strains among Filipino women.

In a study conducted in Naic, Cavite — referred to as their “rural cohort” — and in Tondo, Manila — their “urban cohort” — the researchers found that HPV 52 emerged as the most common strain among adult Filipinas.

The United States National Cancer Institute identifies HPV 52 as one of the 12 high-risk strains of Human Papillomavirus that can lead to cancer.

HPV 52 is not covered by bivalent vaccines, but is covered by nonavalent vaccines.

To strengthen measures against HPV, Tantengco emphasized the urgency of undergoing HPV DNA test to spot the presence of HPV infection.

The HPV DNA test is recommended every five years for women aged 30 and above.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes various cancers that affect different parts of the body, including cervical, anal, oropharyngeal, penile, vaginal, and vulvar cancers.