Baku: The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently in discussions with Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Health regarding the potential inclusion of the HPV vaccine in the national vaccination program. This vaccine is recognized globally for its role in cancer prevention, particularly against cervical cancer.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Hande Harmanci, WHO’s representative in Azerbaijan, indicated that negotiations have yielded positive feedback. However, she noted that detailed information on the progress of these discussions is not available at this time. Harmanci expressed optimism that the HPV vaccine could be integrated into Azerbaijan’s state vaccination program within a few years.

The HPV vaccine has been in use since 2006 to combat the human papillomavirus, which is a leading cause of cervical cancer. It is already part of the preventive vaccination calendar in most countries within the WHO European region, where it is provided free of charge by the state.