Albania advances its HPV immunisation efforts by integrating the nine-valent vaccine into its national programme, aiming to bolster cancer prevention among 13-year-olds in accordance with international health guidelines.
Albania is continuing its national HPV vaccination programme with the newer nine-valent vaccine, expanding protection for 13-year-old girls and boys in line with the country’s immunisation schedule, according to the Albanian Telegraphic Agency. The move is intended to strengthen prevention against infections linked to cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases.
Health and Social Welfare Minister Klodiana Spahiu visited a health centre in Lushnje to observe vaccination efforts and talks with families about the programme, the agency reported. The visit was presented as part of a wider effort to encourage take-up at an early age, when vaccination is considered most effective.
The nine-valent vaccine, also known as Gardasil 9, is designed to protect against nine HPV types, including several associated with cancer and genital warts, according to the US Food and Drug Administration and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The FDA says the vaccine is approved for females and males aged 9 to 45, while the CDC recommends routine vaccination at 11 or 12 years of age, with the series able to begin as early as 9.
Public-health guidance also supports catch-up vaccination for older adolescents and young adults who were not immunised earlier. The CDC’s advisory committee backs routine use of the nine-valent vaccine for children at 11 or 12 and catch-up vaccination through age 26 for those previously unvaccinated, while the American Cancer Society says vaccination works best before exposure to the virus and can provide strong protection against cancers caused by HPV.
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