Comprehensive investment in HPV immunization, cervical cancer screening and treatment will bring huge economic and social benefits, and contribute to the elimination of the disease from the community.
The United Nations Fund Population Agency in Viet Nam (UNFPA) in collaboration with the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (Ministry of Health), Victoria University (Melbourne) and The Daffodil Centre (Australia) has published a study on the effectiveness of investment in HPV vaccination in Vietnam.
The study comprehensively analyzes different investment scenarios of HPV vaccination, cervical cancer screening and treatment based on validated data, included the cost-effectiveness, socio-economic benefits from vaccination and progress in eliminating the disease in the country.
The cervical cancer vaccination rate and screening rate in Vietnam are low
In a recent report by UNFPA and the Cancer Council NSW (2020), cervical cancer is the sixth most common cancer in Vietnamese women, with nearly 4,200 new cases and 2,420 deaths. It has been projected that without any intervention, about 200,000 Vietnamese women will die from cervical cancer by 2070.
Another study in 2021, Vietnam had low HPV vaccination rate and cervical cancer screening rate. Specifically, only 12% of women and girls aged 15-29 are vaccinated against HPV and only 28% of women aged 30-49 are screened.
Benefit from comprehensive investment in HPV vaccination, cervical cancer screening and treatment
Most cervical cancers are caused by the virus HPV, a sexually transmitted infection. HPV vaccine is the most effective prevention of cervical cancer. It is one of the very few cancers for which there is currently a preventive vaccine.
In this context, “An investment case study on HPV vaccination in Vietnam” has provided quality evidence on the impact of various cervical cancer prevention strategies, including HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening programs. This supports the efforts of the Ministry of Health and relevant agencies in scaling up the HPV vaccination program, cervical cancer screening and treatment in Vietnam.
Research shows that Vietnam can completely eliminate cervical cancer in the next 30 years if HPV vaccination is rolled out to 90% of girls aged 12 years old, 70% of women are screened for cervical cancer, and 90% of women with precancerous or are suffering from cervical cancer and access to adequate treatment.
If HPV vaccination is combined with screening and treatment, Vietnam can eradicate cervical cancer in 29 years earlier compared to HPV vaccination only.
The study also estimates that $1 invested in cervical cancer prevention programs. The scenario will return between $5 to $11 in economic benefits, and between $8 and $20 in combined economic and social benefits.
Towards the goal of eliminating cervical cancer in Vietnam
To eradicate the disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls on all countries around the world to take action and ensure that 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by 15 years of age; 70% of women screened with a high-precision test at 35 and 45 years of age; and 90% of women identified with precancerous lesions and cervical disease receiving treatment and care by 2030.
With a high approach to HPV vaccination over many years, early and timely screening and treatment, many countries around the world have reduced the burden of this disease, even some countries such as Australia have moved the stage of eliminating this disease in women.
In Vietnam, in August 2022, the Government has issued Resolution No. 104/NQ-CP on the roadmap to increase the number of vaccines in the Expanded Immunization Program 2021-2030. According to the roadmap, the cervical cancer vaccine will be put into the program from 2026, It is also allowed that localities to deploy earlier for people if funds are available. This is a very important premise and basis for localities to proactively allocate funds to deploy HPV vaccination for people.
Currently, HPV vaccine has not been included in the Expanded Immunization Program, Vietnamese people are having to pay with high costs of millions of VND/injection at service vaccination units.
The Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology said that in the near future, Vietnam will try to access the supply of HPV vaccine in expanded immunization at a cost of about 6.5 USD / dose with the support of UNFPA, WHO, UNICEF, GAVI.
References:
1. UNFPA Vietnam | An Investment Case Study on HPV vaccination in Viet Nam
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