It is true, the new National Prevention Plan 2017-2019 has included HPV vaccination in the vaccination calendar for all female and male adolescents to be administered after their 11th birthday. The recent publication by the Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco (Italian Medicines Agency) of the report on alleged adverse reactions after vaccination shows that – as regards HPV vaccines, the data are consistent with those of all other vaccines and belie in a clear and decisive manner the unjustified catastrophism which derives from a prejudice – today considered scientifically unacceptable-against vaccines in general.
The strategy of also including boys in the vaccination campaigns aims to reduce the circulation of the virus (herd-effect) and the transmission of the Papillomavirus infection between the sexes but – above all – to counteract the emergence of numerous and often severe HPV-related diseases that affect men too.
Parents are obliged to ensure the best protection against diseases when safe and effective vaccines are available to prevent them, falling in line with the National Vaccination Schedule approved by the Ministry of Health. At the same time, parents must observe the current laws providing for obligatory vaccinations.
Doctors have a duty to abide by the code of ethics and, for those employed by public administrations, to actively promote the vaccinations included in the national vaccination schedule approved by the Ministry of Health. They also have a duty to properly inform parents about the risks and benefits of vaccination and non-vaccination.
