Mateusz Morawiecki made the announcement at a news conference in Warsaw on Friday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The prime minister said: “I'm very happy to announce that today we are fulfilling our pledge. We are introducing a free, voluntary vaccine against cervical cancer, the HPV vaccine.”
He added that “cancer is reaping a deadly harvest in Poland.”
Morawiecki declared that the HPV vaccine was one of his government’s “very concrete measures” to prevent cancer.
He told reporters: “We are introducing it now because, for our government, health is not, and must not be, a commodity. Health is a priceless value.”
Morawiecki estimated that some 2,500 Polish women were battling cervical cancer every year.
He said: “Sadly, more than half of these women lose this battle. It is my great hope that soon things will be totally different, precisely because we are launching this free and voluntary vaccine.”
Vaccination for 12- and 13-year-olds from June 1
Health Minister Adam Niedzielski told reporters that the HPV vaccine was addressed to 12- and 13-year-old boys and girls and the vaccination programme would start on June 1.
He added that registration, through health centres, a special toll-free hotline or online, would open on Saturday, May 27.
'The most effective form of prevention'
The free, voluntary HPV vaccine will be administered to youngsters in two doses, officials said.
The recommended interval between the first and second doses is six months, and should not exceed 12 months, according to health ministry experts.
The Polish government said the HPV vaccine “is the most effective form of prevention.”
It “prevents the development of the HPV in the body and preempts the emergence of cancer cells,“ according to officials.
The human papillomavirus (HPV), or the human wart virus, is responsible for all cases of cervical cancer and may also cause other cancers, in both women and men, the PAP news agency reported.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, gov.pl, politykazdrowotna.pl
