Since the beginning of February, 309 boys have received the HPV vaccine, predominantly in Podgorica, and slightly more than 7800 girls have been immunized since September 2022, when their vaccination began.
Epidemiologist of the Institute for Public Health, Dr. Milko Joksimović, explains that for two months they have been recommending that boys, who are carriers of the human papillomavirus, also receive the vaccine, because it also protects them from various types of cancer.
"The vaccine against HPV protects against condylomas, i.e. genital warts. Then cancer of the anus, end ring of the large intestine, cancer of the male genital organ and part of the cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx can also be prevented with the HPV vaccine," he said and added that vaccination in parallel both boys and girls, in the future we can reduce the spread of high-risk HPV types and thus protect the population with collective immunity.
During the next three weekends, the Institute for Public Health is organizing an emergency vaccination of children with the HPV vaccine in all cities.
Epidemiologist Jokimović cites the example of Australia as a country that is on its way to completely eliminating cervical cancer, and which started vaccination at the end of 2006.
"They have fantastic results, it is considered to be the best HPV vaccination program in the world. A few months ago, Scotland also reported that among the vaccinated women, who were vaccinated as girls aged 12 to 13, so far they do not have a single case of cancer of the cervix. These are serious data," he said and reminded that Montenegro, Serbia, and Romania are the black spots of Europe when it comes to cervical cancer.
The doctor was reminded of the scientific research that says that the vaccine does not affect fertility.
"Absolutely based on all scientific data, I can claim that it cannot cause sterility or endanger fertility. What's more, this vaccine preserves the fertility of our children, he said.
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