HPV Vaccine Becomes the Most Effective Way to Prevent Cervical Cancer | Good Doctor

Cervical cancer is one of the most common diseases suffered by women. However, prevention can be done early on by giving the HPV vaccine.

It’s better to prevent than to treat, come on, find out what the actual function of the HPV vaccine is.

HPV vaccine

This vaccine can help you avoid the virus human papillomavirus also known as the HPV virus. Several preventable diseases such as cervical cancer, mouth and throat cancer, and cancer around the anus to the genitals.

Reported from mayoclinic.org, various types of HPV are spread through sexual contact and are associated with most cases of cervical cancer. This vaccine can prevent vaginal and vulvar cancer in women and can prevent genital warts and anal cancer in women as well as men.

In theory, giving this vaccine to men can also help protect and reduce the possibility of transmission.

There are many factors that make you infected with this HPV virus infection, especially if you refuse to receive the vaccine. Some of the factors include unprotected sex, having more than one sexual partner, and contact with genital warts.

Not only that, you also need to be careful if you have cuts or abrasions on the skin, smoking which can reduce the immune system so that you come into contact with cancer sufferers who are undergoing chemotherapy or people with HIV/AIDS.

Types of HPV vaccine

There are only 2 types of vaccines that are often used in Indonesia, viz bivalent And tetravalent.

bivalent is a vaccine that contains two types of the HPV virus, namely types 16 and 18. This vaccine can prevent cervical cancer.

Then for tetravalent namely a vaccine containing four HPV viruses in the form of types 6, 11, 16, and 18. This vaccine functions to prevent cervical cancer as well as genital warts.

Vaccination

Reported from mayoclinic.org, this vaccine is routinely recommended for girls and boys aged 11 or 12 years. Usually this vaccine will be given in the form of an injection.

It is ideal for girls and boys to receive the vaccine before they have sexual contact and will increase the risk of exposure to HPV.

The existence of vaccines early on is because, when you are infected with HPV, the vaccine may not be as effective or may not work at all.

The effect of the vaccine that has been given will be better at a younger age than at an older age.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommend that all children ages 11 and 12 receive two doses of the vaccine at least six months apart, rather than the previously recommended three-dose schedule.

Vaccination for teenagers

Younger adolescents aged 9 and 10 years and adolescents aged 13 and 14 can also receive the vaccine on a two-dose schedule. The two-dose schedule is the most effective option for administering vaccines to children under 15 years of age.

Teenagers and young adults who just received the vaccine aged 15 to 26 should continue to receive three doses of the vaccine. The CDC now recommends catch-up vaccination for everyone through the age of 26 who is not vaccinated enough.

How many times the HPV vaccine

This vaccine is available from ages 9 to 21 for men. It may also be given up to age 45 in men who are at higher risk for developing an HPV infection.

Boys under the age of 15, like girls, need only two injections, six months apart. At the age of 15 and over, men need a series of three injections.

The HPV vaccination is recommended for girls ages 11 and 12. It is also recommended for girls and women ages 13 to 26 who have not been vaccinated or have not completed the vaccine course.

Vaccines can also be given to girls starting at 9 years old. The CDC recommends that children ages 11 to 12 get two doses of the vaccine to protect against the cancer caused by HPV.

How is the HPV vaccine given?

The vaccine is given by 2 injections into the upper arm at least 6 months apart. Both vaccine doses must be properly protected.

But if you don’t get your first dose of vaccine by age 15 or older, you should get 3 shots

Men who have sex with men (MSM), and trans men and trans women who are eligible for the vaccine, will need 3 doses of the vaccine (2 if they are under 15 years of age).

If you need 3 doses of vaccine, then give:

• The 2nd dose should be given at least 1 month after the 1st dose
• The 3rd dose should be given at least 3 months after the 2nd dose

Vaccine ban

HPV vaccination is highly recommended for cervical cancer prevention, but this vaccine is highly not recommended for pregnant women or people who are seriously ill.

Tell your doctor right away if you have a severe allergy, including an allergy to yeast or latex.

Not only that, if you have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any vaccine component or previous vaccine doses, you are strongly discouraged from getting this vaccine.

Also read: Characteristics of Cervical Cancer You Need to Know

Side effects

Sometimes you will also feel dizzy or faint after the injection. Overcome this by sitting for 15 minutes can reduce the risk of fainting. In addition, headache, nausea, vomiting, tiredness or weakness may also occur.

HPV vaccine before marriage

This type of vaccine is recommended for unmarried couples, especially for those of you who have never gotten it at all.

Giving HPV vaccination before marriage is done to prevent sexually transmitted diseases between partners.

Vaccines will work more actively if given to people who are sexually active. Apart from HPV, couples are also advised to do other vaccines. Such as the MMR, DPT, varicella (chickenpox) and hepatitis B vaccines.

HPV vaccine for men

So far, the HPV vaccination is more common for girls. But actually this vaccine applies to both men and women. Because the same as women, men are also at risk of cancer due to the HPV virus.

Men need to be concerned about HPV for two reasons. First, men can be carriers of the HPV virus and can infect their partners. Second, men are at risk for several HPV-related cancers, namely anal cancer, penile cancer, and throat cancer.

The quadrivalent HPV vaccine (HPV4) is safe and highly efficacious and can significantly reduce the risk of genital warts and HPV-related cancers among males, in addition to increasing herd immunity.

How long does the HPV vaccine last?

Launching the NHS, studies have shown that the vaccine protects against HPV infection for at least 10 years, although experts estimate the protection lasts much longer.

But because vaccines do not protect against all types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer, it is important that all women who receive the vaccine also have regular cervical checks once they turn 25 years of age.

Price of the HPV vaccine

The price of this vaccine varies depending on which health facility you do it. Usually vaccines are also given to children through school programs.

However, what if you want to do an independent vaccine? The price for this vaccine generally starts from IDR 700,000 to IDR 1,000,000.

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