Free HPV vaccination program begins in Ankara

Ankara Metropolitan Municipality has launched an HPV vaccination program.

According to a written statement from the municipality, under the leadership of Ankara Metropolitan Mayor Mansur Yavaş, a free HPV vaccination program has been implemented for the children of families receiving social support.

In this context, applications for the "HPV Vaccination Program" for individuals aged 9-30 were accepted between March 20 and April 20.

In the program carried out in cooperation with Gazi University Hospital, applications were received from 1,575 people, including 251 individuals under the age of 15 and 1,324 individuals over the age of 15.

A budget of 15 million 180 thousand Turkish Lira was allocated to the project, and 5 thousand doses of HPV vaccine were procured. The first doses have begun to be administered at Gazi Hospital. The project plans to vaccinate 2,000 people in its first phase.

Mustafa Ünsal, Head of the Health Affairs Department, whose remarks were included in the statement, stated that within the scope of the project, three doses of the HPV vaccine will be administered to girls and women aged 9-30 to prevent cervical cancer.

Noting that the first dose is being administered today, the second dose will be given 2 months later, and the third dose 6 months later, and that the project will last approximately 1 year, Ünsal added that 11 municipalities have applied to receive technical support.

"WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE COLLABORATION"

GÜ Hospital Chief Physician Prof. Dr. Hasan Bostancı also expressed his satisfaction with the collaboration and expressed his hope that the practice would spread and continue across Turkey.

GÜ Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology faculty member Prof. Dr. Esin Davutoğlu Şenol stated, "The HPV vaccine provides 99.5 percent protection, especially when administered to individuals under the age of 15. The infection affects 85 percent of both women and men. We hope that all women and men in Turkey will have access to this vaccine. There is no other way to prevent this infection."

Citizens who came to the GÜ Hospital Adult Vaccination Center to receive their first dose of the HPV vaccine thanked those who contributed to the project.

News Source: AA