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 conclusive, she had been infected with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a disease that she could have avoided if she had been vaccinated as part of her protection.
HPV is a common virus that spreads easily. In fact, it's so common that most adults in the U.S. become infected at least once in their lifetime. Most of the time, the body can suppress the virus, however, when a person becomes infected, there is no way to know who will have 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, each year, more than 46,000 people (men and women) suffer from cancer caused by HPV, while more than 7,000 die each year from cancers caused by HPV, including cancer. penile, vaginal, vulvar, anal, and head and neck.
For this reason, children and/or adolescents should receive the HPV vaccine to protect themselves against the viruses that cause HPV-related cancers in the future.
How is HPV spread?
HPV spreads through skin-to-skin contact. Although this virus is the most commonly transmitted sexually transmitted disease in the United States, it is not only transmitted through sexual relations. Three out of four adults will have at least one HPV infection before 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 ages 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. In part, this is because children and adolescents produce more antibodies after the HPV vaccine than older adolescents. HPV vaccines can be given at the same time as other vaccines without any problems.
Most children who receive the first dose of the HPV vaccine before their 15th birthday need two doses, and these should be given 6 to 12 months apart.
However, people who start the HPV vaccine schedule at age 15 or later and young people with certain immune conditions need three doses. The doses must be administered over a period of 6 months (0, 2 and 6 months).
Is the HPV vaccine safe?
Yeah! The HPV vaccine has a very good safety record. It is approved for all people between 9 and 26 years old. 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 side effects to the HPV vaccine?
As with any vaccine, a child may feel pain or have redness in the arm after the injection.
Why is HPV vaccination important?
The combination of HPV vaccines and cervical screening offers the greatest protection against cervical cancer. Additionally, HPV vaccines reduce the risk of developing cancers in other parts of the body.
Vaccination not only protects vaccinated people 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 to whom the vaccine is directed in the general population.
In this way, vaccination also decreases infection in people who are not vaccinated, a phenomenon called herd protection or herd immunity.
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