More than 10,000 doses of the HPV vaccine expire at the end of the summer, while in some counties no such sera are available at all. In Romania, cervical cancer causes more than 1,500 deaths annually.
Thousands of HPV vaccine doses are unused, in DSP warehouses – Photo Shuterstock
A large number of anti-HPV vaccine doses, bought by the Ministry of Health, which will expire on August 31 or September 30, have remained unused, reports 360medical.ro.
The Ministry of Health resumed the anti-HPV vaccination program in Romania in 2021, with the objective of reducing the risk of cervical cancer. The program allows free access to HPV vaccination for girls and boys between the ages of 11 and 18, and women between the ages of 19 and 45 benefit from the 50% compensated vaccine.
Practically, the transition period, from the Ministry of Health’s centralized procurement system to the vaccine compensation system in pharmacies, led to the non-use of a significant number of doses purchased by the Ministry.
An information sent by the General Directorate of Public Health and Health Programs from the Ministry of Health to DSPs, asked the directorates in the territory to take the necessary measures to inform family doctors, “so that the doses of HPV vaccine existing in warehouses and offices at the present date are used before the expiry date mentioned on the product packaging“.
On June 6, there were 14,179 vaccine doses in DSP warehouses and at family doctors, of which 13,603 doses expired on August 31, and 576 doses – on September 30.
According to INSP, on July 1, there were 11,708 doses of anti-HPV vaccine (7,157 doses in the territory and 4,551 at DSPs). These unused doses are mainly concentrated in a few counties, with 4,106 doses in DSP Ilfov and 431 in DSP Giurgiu, while in other counties there are no stocks at all.
We remind you that, recently, the budget of the Ministry of Health for the 13 national public health programs was supplemented by 200 million lei.
How the vaccines remained unused
In December 2023, a new compensation mechanism for HPV vaccines was implemented, simplifying the vaccination process: only a referral ticket and a single visit to the pharmacy are required.
The two systems, vaccination from the sera purchased by the MS and compensation, with the vaccine picked up from the pharmacy on prescription, work in parallel until the existing stocks are exhausted. Dr Gindrovel Dumitra mentions that this compensated mechanism is preferred by patients, although there are unused doses left at DSPs and GPs, close to expiry.
“The same girls can, from December 2023, benefit from the compensated mechanism, with vaccines from the pharmacy. This mechanism is preferred by patients because it is a comfortable one. There are unused doses left at DSPs and GPs, which are nearing expiry, from the vaccines bought by the Ministry of Health“, explained Dr. Dumitra, according to the quoted source.
Vaccination against HPV reduces the risk of cancer
HPV vaccination can prevent cervical cancer, genital warts, and other conditions caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which affect both women and men. HPV infection is the most common sexually transmitted viral infection, with 80% of people becoming infected during their lifetime.
In Romania, cervical cancer is the most common gynecological cancer and the second most common among women aged 15-44. Moreover, our country has the highest incidence and mortality rate in the EU for this type of cancer. Annually, nearly 3,400 women are diagnosed and 1,805 die from this disease.
Vaccination is free for girls and boys between 11 and 19 and 50% reduced for women between 19 and 45. The HPV vaccine costs approximately 600 lei in pharmacies. Regular check-ups are essential, as early detection of cervical cancer can make a difference in treatment and prognosis.
