The HPV vaccine, Should you get vaccinated?

(i)

It is more important for cancer prevention than for treatment, both in terms of effectiveness and money-saving. Therefore, cancer vaccines have always been the holy grail of scientists' dreams.

There are very few cancers that can actually be prevented by a vaccine, mainly two tumors that are closely related to viral infections: cervical cancer (HPV) and liver cancer (HBV).

Almost 100% of cervical cancers are linked to persistent HPV infection, so the HPV vaccine has been an absolute boon to women and has given us hope of eradicating cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is arguably the only preventable cancer out there, and if all people of the right age were vaccinated and screened regularly, cervical cancer would disappear from the world.

But unfortunately, even though the HPV vaccine is already on the market, the rate of vaccination among the right age group has been low. In a country that is so health-conscious that any cancer supplement can sell for hundreds of millions of dollars, why do people ignore or even reject something so effective?

The main reason for this is still the misunderstanding of the HPV vaccine.

 

(ii)

 

Those above are of great concern, so I'll answer the above and the most central ones I've encountered.

 

Q: Many videos and articles online say that the HPV vaccine has serious side effects and can even cause infertility, is this true?

This is a complete conspiracy theory and rumor, originally sourced from some foreign anti-vaccine groups. Not only are they against HPV vaccines, they are against all vaccines. As a result of their "relentless efforts", infectious diseases, such as measles, which had been eradicated, have returned to the US and Canada, killing children.

The side effects of vaccines are strictly monitored in every country in the world, and tens of millions of women have received the HPV vaccine in the United States alone, with no statistically significant side effects. The risk-benefit ratio of HPV vaccination is positive, except for some people with inherently defective immune systems. If there was a real serious problem, the drug companies would have been cleaned up by the government and lawyers by now.

Conspiracy theories attract attention, but they are not the truth.

 

Q: Is it worth vaccinating if you're already sexually active?

There is no doubt that the best time for HPV vaccination is before sexual activity, which is the most effective, but it does not mean that it is completely useless after sexual activity.

The reason the HPV vaccine is associated with sexual activity is that women who have normal sex have an 80% chance of being infected with at least one type of HPV in their lifetime, and most infections clear up spontaneously in a short period of time. However, there are more than 200 known types of HPV, which are classified as high-risk or low-risk depending on their carcinogenicity. So, while a woman may have been infected with certain subtypes of HPV after having sex, it does not mean that she is infected with the high-risk HPV types that are most likely to cause cervical cancer.

There is value in vaccinating women who have already had sex to prevent continued infection with high-risk HPV types. Research data also proves that vaccination, as a whole, can also be a good protection for this population.

 

Q: Can I still get vaccinated if I'm already over 26 years old?

It is possible. The age range for vaccination currently approved for use is between 9 and 45 years of age for women. Scientifically, whether or not you should be vaccinated is not simply related to age, but rather to the history and current status of sexual activity, the state of the body including the immune system, and the history of HPV infection.

 

Q: Who is not suitable for vaccination?

The HPV vaccine is available to the normal population in most cases. However, a few groups do have specific risks and should delay or avoid vaccination, including people who are running a fever, or who have a compromised immune system (e.g., allergies to proteins and yeast, certain autoimmune diseases), and women at certain times (e.g., pregnant women, breastfeeding women).

Q: Do I still need to be screened after vaccination?

Yes!  Many people think that after getting the HPV vaccine they are done for good and don't have to worry about anything. This is a huge misconception.

It is not true. What is needed to truly eradicate cervical cancer is vaccination + regular screenings.

So for women, screening is still a must. Vaccination is primary prevention and regular screening is secondary prevention, which is the most effective self-protection.

(iii)

Many cancers occur with random factors, but cervical cancer is the only "poor man's cancer" that can be almost completely eliminated!

The core reason for its high prevalence worldwide is the lack of proper public awareness, acceptance, and low prevalence of the vaccine and screening, with many people preferring to take supplements rather than get vaccinated, which is a huge risk for individuals and society.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 70 countries worldwide have included the HPV vaccine in their national immunization programs.

Regarding the timing of the vaccination, it is emphasized that

Vaccinate your child as soon as possible!

The WHO recommends the best time to vaccinate children between the ages of 9 and 14, when they are not yet infected, and at the same time have a strong immune system and good protection. But it is a pity that the majority of parents, especially girls' parents, do not have this concept yet and miss the peak of the immune response.

It is worth noting that more than 70% of cervical cancer cases worldwide are associated with persistent infection with two high-risk viruses, HPV 16 and 18. The WHO has concluded that from a public health perspective, there is no difference between the three vaccines in terms of immunogenicity, efficacy, and effectiveness in preventing HPV16/18-related cervical cancer and that all three vaccines prevent the majority of cancers.

All in all, I hope you will trust science, resist the rumors, and choose the method that is best for you. I believe that one day, cervical cancer can be wiped off the face of the earth.

Salute to life!