HPV vaccine is for the prevention of Cervical cancers and the genital warts caused by the Human Papiloma Virus and currently this is been given for the girls of age 12 - 14 years old under the recommendation of the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka.
(previous article - https://maesterofdrugs.blogspot.com/2019/ )
Why Girls?
HPV vaccine is currently given for girls to prevent the cervical cancers but it also has the potential to prevent penile cancers and oral cancers of males too. But in Sri Lanka priority is given to the girls and many western countries including US has recommended vaccinating the boys too.
Why Age specificity?
Human Papiloma Virus spreads through sexual contact and HPV vaccine is only a preventive medication for the HPV associated cervical cancers and this doesn't mean that it has a therapeutic benefit if you are already infected. Therefore it is important to select an age group who are not sexually active thus the age of 12 - 14 years.
But in a country like Sri Lanka with much social boundaries for girls this age group could be extended to early 20 s as in the case of most of the girls.
Who else can get HPV vaccine?
HPV vaccination is also recommended for everyone through age 26 years, if not vaccinated already.
Vaccination is not recommended for everyone older than age 26 years. However, some adults age 27 through 45 years who are not already vaccinated may decide to get HPV vaccine after speaking with their doctor about their risk for new HPV infections and the possible benefits of vaccination. HPV vaccination in this age range provides less benefit, as more people have already been exposed to HPV.
Concerns prior to vaccination
before getting the vaccine to yourself or your teen daughter ,
- inform if you have any allergies to your doctor
- inform the doctor if you are on any long term medication for any disease
- inform about any alternative or herbal medication that you are using
- inform if you have a weakened immune system, for example due to a genetic defect, HIV infection or medicines that affect the immune system.
Side effects of the vaccine
According to the CDC report July 2014
most common events reported (for both male and female patients)
fainting-common after needle injections, especially in pre-teens and teens- pain and redness in the site of injection
- dizziness;
- nausea;
- headache.
- Death
- Immobility
- Very commonly (more than 1 in 10 patients), side effects found at the injection site include: pain, swelling and redness. Headache was also seen.
- Commonly (more than 1 in 100 patients), side effects found at the injection site include: bruising, itching, pain in extremity.
- Rarely (less than 1 in 1000 patients): hives (urticaria).
- Very rarely (less than 1 in 10,000 patients), difficulty breathing (bronchospasm) has been reported.
As of any medication the HPV vaccine has its own pros and cons and what is really important is to make sure that the parents as well as the children are properly made aware of why it is given and what measures to be taken if any side effect is experienced.
Also once the parents are properly educated they must be allowed to make the decision whether or not their daughter needs the vaccination, thus the parental consent must be obtained before the girls are being vaccinated.
Reference -
Piumish (B.pharm - USJ)
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