DOH says HPV vaccine is safe and effective

Contrary to supposed health warnings surfacing online, the Department of Health (DOH) assured the public that the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is safe and effective in preventing cervical cancer.

According to Ivan Mayrina's report on "24 Oras" Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) has also appealed to the public not to believe "unfounded rumors" about the so-called side effects of HPV vaccine.

"Unfounded rumors about HPV vaccines continue to unnecessarily delay or impede the scaling up of vaccination, which is so urgently needed to prevent cervical cancer," Dr. Elisabete Weiderpass, director of WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer, said.

The Philippines saw up to 7,190 new cases of cervical cancer in 2018.

Next to breast cancer, cervical cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in the Philippines,  which kills more than 300,000 every year.

"Once you get infected with it, ang effect kasi niyan, of course, is warts initially kaya lang itong warts na 'to may transform into cancerous cells and nagiging cervical cancer," Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo said.

"It's well-studied (HPV vaccination). Nag-start ito with girls, pero ngayon nag-e-expand na rin to boys, very effective siya and safe," he added. —Margaret Claire Layug/ LDF, GMA News