What is HPV?
Two vaccines are available to prevent the human papillomavirus (HPV) types that cause most cervical cancers. These vaccines are bivalent vaccine (Cervarix) and quadrivalent vaccine (Gardasil). One of the HPV vaccines, Gardasil, also prevents HPV types that cause most genital warts. Gardasil also has been shown to prevent some cancers of the anus, vulva (area around the opening of the vagina), and vagina. Both vaccines are given in 3 shots over 6 months.
Why is the HPV vaccine important?
Genital HPV is a common virus that is passed from one person to another through direct skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity. Most sexually active people will get HPV at some time in their lives, though most will never even know it. HPV infection is most common in people in their late teens and early 20s. There are about 40 types of HPV that can infect the genital areas of men and women. Most HPV types cause no symptoms and go away on their own. But some types can cause cervical cancer in women and other less common cancers— like cancers of the anus, penis, vagina, and vulva and oropharynx (back of throat including base of tongue and tonsils). Other types of HPV can cause warts in the genital areas of men and women, called genital warts. Genital warts are not life-threatening. But they can cause emotional stress and their treatment can be very uncomfortable. Every year, about 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 4,000 women die from this disease.
Which girls should and can receive HPV vaccination?
18 years old and above. For the time being, it is free. So girls, please go get your vaccination from the nearest LPPKN or Campuses that provide the vaccination.
How effective are the HPV Vaccines?
The vaccines target the HPV types that most commonly cause cervical cancer. One of the vaccines (Gardasil) also protects against the HPV types that cause most genital warts. Both vaccines are highly effective in preventing the targeted HPV types, as well as the most common health problems caused by them. The vaccines are less effective in preventing HPV-related disease in young women who have already been exposed to one or more HPV types. That is because the vaccines prevent HPV before a person is exposed to it. HPV vaccines do not treat existing HPV infections or HPV-associated diseases.
**Info taken from HPV Information and edited by me.
Princess is happy after the first dose. Will be getting the second one on the 1st of March soon. Till then.
(p/s: Ignore my arm's size. Some said it looks like drumstick size -.- maybe gambar dekat sangat kot hihi)
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