I am writing this post because of my school-going daughter. I received a letter from her school requesting the consent of parents for HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccination of 13 year old girls. The Government has been providing free HPV vaccinations for the prevention of cervical cancer for 13-year-old girls after Budget 2012. Most parents in her school have consented. When I hesitated, she asked me for my reasons and I believe I owe her an explanation.
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a virus that is passed on by sexual activity. It needn't be actual sexual intercourse: HPV can also be transmitted by oral-genital sex. There are more than 100 different sub-types of HPV, grouped into (i) high-risk types (may cause cancer) and (ii) low risk types (non-cancer causing). For most people the virus clears up on its own, but for some it can cause vaginal and vulvar cancers in women and anal cancer and genital warts in men and women. Since there is no way to predict who will clear or not clear the virus, the vaccine is a very efficient way to cut down incidences of cervical cancer.
Two HPV vaccines are currently on the market: Gardasil and Cervarix.:-
Gardasil works
against four HPV types. HPV 16 and 18 are responsible for
around 70 per cent of cervical cancers, whereas HPV 6 and 11 are responsible
for around 90 per cent of genital warts, but are not associated with cervical
cancer. Anyone who is severely allergic to yeast, should not receive the vaccine. It is
not for women who are pregnant.
Cervarix protects against two HPV types 16 and 18, but no others. So again, it offers in the region of 70 per cent protection against cervical cancer. Also, since both the vaccines are effective against 70% of cervical cancers and will not block infection with all of the HPV types that can cause cervical cancer, the vaccine should not be considered a substitute for routine pap smears.
It is important for girls to get HPV vaccine before their first sexual contact -- because they have not been exposed to HPV yet. However, if a female is already infected with a type of HPV, the vaccine will not help prevent a disease resulting from that HPV type. The vaccines may not fully protect everyone, nor will it protect against diseases caused by other HPV types or against diseases not caused by HPV. They do not prevent all types of cervical cancer. They are also not treatments for cancer and genital warts.
Tomorrow, we will look at the controversy surrounding these vaccines.
Cervarix protects against two HPV types 16 and 18, but no others. So again, it offers in the region of 70 per cent protection against cervical cancer. Also, since both the vaccines are effective against 70% of cervical cancers and will not block infection with all of the HPV types that can cause cervical cancer, the vaccine should not be considered a substitute for routine pap smears.
It is important for girls to get HPV vaccine before their first sexual contact -- because they have not been exposed to HPV yet. However, if a female is already infected with a type of HPV, the vaccine will not help prevent a disease resulting from that HPV type. The vaccines may not fully protect everyone, nor will it protect against diseases caused by other HPV types or against diseases not caused by HPV. They do not prevent all types of cervical cancer. They are also not treatments for cancer and genital warts.
Tomorrow, we will look at the controversy surrounding these vaccines.
They have their drawbacks. however at least the options are there for women who want to use some sort of preventative method. Hopefully as time goes on even more effective methods will be found.
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