Vanessa had no idea what was happening to her. She began to see small lesions appearing on her vulva. They didn't hurt, but she knew it wasn't normal. When she went to the gynecologist, the diagnosis was overwhelming: she had been infected with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a disease that she was able to avoid if she had been vaccinated as part of her protection.
HPV is a common virus that spreads easily. In fact, it is so common that most adults in the U.S. are infected at least once in their lifetime. Most of the time, the body can suppress the virus, however, when a person is infected, there is no way to know who will get cancer or other health problems. It can take years or even decades before cancer develops from an HPV infection.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 46,000 people (men and women) suffer from cancer caused by HPV each year, while more than 7,000 people die each year from HPV-caused cancers, including penile, vaginal, vulvar, anal, and head and neck cancers.
For this reason, children and/or adolescents should receive the HPV vaccine to protect themselves against viruses that cause HPV-related cancers in the future.
How is HPV spread?
HPV is spread through skin-to-skin contact. While this virus is the most commonly transmitted sexually transmitted disease in the United States, it is not only spread through sexual intercourse. Three out of four adults will have at least one HPV infection by the age of 30. And yes, someone who has had only one sexual partner can still have HPV.
Why do children need the HPV vaccine now if cancer doesn't develop until they are adults?
There are various reasons not to wait. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children receive the HPV vaccine between the ages of 9 and 12. Vaccinating children when it is most effective will protect them before they are exposed to the virus.
The HPV vaccine is also more effective when given at a young age. This is partly because children and adolescents produce more antibodies after the HPV vaccine than older teens do. HPV vaccines can be given at the same time as other vaccines without any problems.
Most children who receive the first dose of HPV vaccine before their 15th birthday need two doses, which should be given 6 to 12 months apart.
However, people who start the HPV vaccine regimen at age 15 or later and young people with certain immune conditions need three doses. The doses should be administered over a 6-month period (0, 2, and 6 months).
Is the HPV vaccine safe?
Yes! The HPV vaccine has a very good safety record. It is approved for everyone between the ages of 9 and 26. Some adults between the ages of 27 and 45 may also be eligible to receive this vaccine.
Millions of doses have been distributed and there have been no serious safety concerns. The vaccine continues to be monitored for safety in more than 80 countries around the world.
Are there any side effects to the HPV vaccine?
As with any other vaccine, a child may feel pain or have redness in the arm after the injection.
Why is HPV vaccination important?
Combining HPV vaccines with cervical screening offers the greatest protection against cervical cancer. HPV vaccines also lower the risk of developing cancers in other parts of the body.
Vaccination not only protects vaccinated individuals against infection with the HPV types targeted by the vaccine (and perhaps other types, depending on the degree of cross-protection), but also decreases the prevalence of the HPV types targeted by the vaccine in the general population.
In this way, vaccination also reduces infection in people who are not vaccinated, a phenomenon called herd protection or collective immunity.
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