The human papillomavirus vaccine reduces the number of cervical cancer patients by almost 90 percent. Despite this, the “HPV Immunization Program” campaign, started in 2022, is not achieving the expected results in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Even in Herzegovina-Neretva County, which was among the first to join this program, the percentage of people vaccinated is low.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common form of cancer among women in the world, and in Bosnia and Herzegovina almost 150 women die from this malignant tumor every year. Although vaccination is key to preventing HPV, very few people know about it.
There is no mandatory vaccination in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is currently only recommended. Unlike more developed countries, where this vaccine is included in the regular calendar. During 2023, in the entire Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, only two thousand children were vaccinated, while the data for Herzegovina-Neretva County are devastating.
ROZALIJA NEDIĆ, Institute for Public Health FBiH
“This program started as a pilot program with four counties, HNŽ was one of them. Last year, according to our data, some 120 children were vaccinated, while this year around 230 children were vaccinated.”
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, vaccines are completely free until the age of eighteen. Doctors, including Dr. Krešić, advise that it is crucial to vaccinate children before engaging in their first sexual relations.
TANJA KREŠIĆ, specialist in gynecology and obstetrics
“The vaccine is considered effective, the problem is that it came to us late, so we are only now familiar with it, and after covid there is a lot of distrust towards doctors and vaccines, but since 2006, people have been vaccinating around the world, cancer has been eradicated in Australia cervix. It’s a 15-year protection, so these are the first results, so anyway, I’m all for it.”
Cervical cancer in its early stages often does not cause any symptoms. Therefore, regular gynecological examinations are crucial for early detection of the disease.
TANJA KREŠIĆ, specialist in gynecology and obstetrics
“Pap test is the first step, it makes us suspect HPV infection and the changes that HPV can make, what is the most common term in the people – CIN, meaning CIN 1,2 and 3. It is not visible, we cannot see it with the naked eye , but the pap test detects it.”
DRAGANA KARALJ KRIŽANAC, clinical pathologist
“It’s usually young women, if we’re going to use that economic sense, who do business, who have small children, etc. If they are, in fact, thrown out of the system to work, they are also a burden on the health system. It’s terribly difficult for a family that has an oncology patient. ”
Given that the campaign on the importance of immunization did not bring the expected results, the competent services should consider the introduction of mandatory vaccination. Otherwise, Bosnia and Herzegovina could face an increase in the number of people suffering from this serious disease, BHRT writes.
