Cervical cancer vaccine update
Find out the facts about the HPV vaccine and why your teenager will be offered it.
In September 2009 one girl in Coventry died less than two hours after having the cervical cancer (HPV) vaccine. It was quickly established that she had suffered from a tumour that had grown extensively through her heart and lungs and that the vaccination was not contributory to her death. Unfortunately, the tragic incident only served to raise concern among girls and parents, about the safety vaccine and whether or not it was really needed.
However, all medical advice still strongly supports the take up of this vaccine, and the death of Jade Goody from the disease certainly served to raise awareness about cervical cancer. So what does the HPV vaccine entail and why is it important?
Why is cervical cancer such a concern?
Cervical cancer is the second most common form of the disease, across the world. It is believed that 99% of all cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
HPV is extremely common and often undetected as many of the variants are either harmless or only cause minor problems such as genital warts. HPV is spread through intimate sexual contact and it is expected that more than 50% of all women who are sexually active will have been infected with HPV at some point during their lifetime.
How can the HPV vaccine guard against cervical cancer?
The vaccine protects against two particular strains of HPV that cause this type of cancer in more than 70% of cases.
It is important to note that the vaccine does not protect against other sexually transmitted diseases, and that the cervical smear programme which is offered to all women in the UK through the NHS, will continue. Also, it is not a form of contraception.
How and when is the HPV vaccine given?
All girls in Year 8 at school are offered the vaccination programme (aged 12 or 13). However over two years it is also being offered to older girls to ensure that all girls born on or after September 1 1990 will have the chance to be protected from these strains of HPV.
The programme involves 3 injections given over a six month period. These are either given at school, or at your regular GP’s surgery.
Girls in this age group who qualify for free NHS care will all be offered the vaccine free of charge but it can also be given privately for those who do not qualify for NHS free care.
As with all vaccines, whilst medical advice might strongly recommend take up of the HPV vaccine, it is not compulsory.
Is the vaccine safe?
As with all vaccines, the HPV inoculations have been thoroughly tested in clinical trials with women of all ages, and outcomes were monitored over several years to examine any possible side effects.
In most instances the vaccine is well tolerated, but more common side effects can be:
• redness, swelling or some pain on the spot where the vaccine was given (these usually pass off quickly)
• muscle aches and pains
• tiredness
• raised temperature
Many other vaccinations come with similar side effects. However if you have any concerns about your daughter’s individual health record and possible reaction to vaccination, do talk this through with your GP beforehand.
Preparing your daughter for the vaccines
The HPV vaccine is intended to be given to girls well before they become sexually active in order to give them the best chances of protection and it’s worth talking this through with your daughter.
Many girls and their parents do worry that the vaccine in some way implies a desire to have sex, which is not the case at all. A good comparison is the old rubella vaccine that was given to girls around the age they were likely to start having periods, in order to ensure that they did not contract German measles during any future pregnancy. This was not intended to suggest that girls of this age would get pregnant straight away but purely to offer peace of mind for the future. The rubella vaccine is no longer offered to teens as it has usually been covered in the routine MMR vaccines between birth and 5 years, but those who missed these jabs can be given them during their teens.
The NHS have a brilliant website devoted to the HPV vaccine. It has advice and information that talks directly to girls, but parents will find it really useful too. Go to www.nhs.uk/HPV or http://www.immunisation.nhs.uk/Vaccines/HPV
Other ways to help protect your daughter against cervical cancer.
You probably know your daughter better than anyone else. When the time feels right, talking about sexually transmitted disease and issues like cervical cancer doesn’t have to be all about scaring your child. Instead it can be a positive conversation about women’s health.
You can talk about cancer awareness and what kinds of checks will be on offer to her as a grown-up, and also remind her that protection like condoms isn’t just about birth control but protection against cervical cancer.