HPV is a harmful viral infection that is primarily transmitted through sex with an infected person. It goes overlooked because its symptoms take years to manifest. However, the virus itself cannot be cured and can lead to genital warts and several types of cancer. Log on to http://www.infectiousdiseasedoctor.net/ to get a free consultation.
Learn more about HPV vaccine in this article.
What are HPV vaccines?
HPV vaccines are used to protect you against infection by the human papillomavirus. This infection contains more than 200 related viruses, of which more than 40 can be spread through sexual contact. Among those, two HPV types cause genital warts, and about a dozen HPV types can cause certain types of cancer including cervical, anal, oropharyngeal, penile, vulvar, and vaginal.
There are 3 vaccines are used to prevent infection with disease-causing HPV including Gardasil, Gardasil 9, and Cervarix. Gardasil 9 is the only HPV used in the United States since 2016. This vaccine can prevent the following 9 HPV types:
- HPV types 6 and 11 cause 90% of genital warts.
- HPV types 16 and 18, are the two high-risk HPVs (Human Papillomavirus) that cause about 70% of cervical cancers, which is higher in percentage than some other HPV-caused cancers (2 and 4).
- HPV types 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58, are high-risk HPVs that also cause 10% to 20% of cervical cancers.
Cervarix prevents infection with types 16 and 18, and Gardasil prevents infection with types 6, 11, 16, and 18. These vaccines are still used in some countries.
Who should get vaccinated?
HPV vaccination is recommended from the age of 11 to 12 years old. But it can be given at the age of 9 years. So, all preteens need to get vaccinated, so that they are protected from HPV infections that can cause cancer later in life. Teens and young adults who are around the age of 26 years who didn’t take or finish the vaccine doses need to take the HPV vaccination.
Children around 11 to 12 years old should receive two doses of the HPV vaccine 6 to 12 months apart. Make sure both doses are given before their 15th birthday.
Teens and young adults who start the vaccine later at the ages of 15 to 26 years, require 3 doses of the HPV vaccine. The third dose is also required for people who receive two doses of the HPV vaccine between the age of 9 to 14 years. 3 doses are also recommended for people aged between 9 to 26 years old and who have a weak immune system.
However, vaccination is not recommended for everyone older than 26 years. Only some adults aged 27 through 45 years who are not vaccinated may need to take the HPV vaccine after speaking with their doctor about the risk of new HPV infections and the possible benefits of vaccination for them. The reason it’s not recommended in this age range is that it provides less benefit because many people of this age range have already been exposed to HPV.
Who should not get the vaccine?
The HPV vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women and people who have severe allergies including allergies to yeast or latex and have experienced life-threatening allergic reactions to any component in the previous dose. People who are moderately or severely ill, shouldn’t get the vaccine.
HPV vaccine causes side effects in some people, but those side effects can easily be overlooked due to the protection it provides against HPV infections and stays effective for a long time. If you didn’t take the HPV vaccine in your teens, then ask your doctor if you can still take the HPV vaccine.
Want to know more about HPV virus and HPV infection? Call us on 13473845690. If you need any information on sexually transmitted infections, log on to http://www.infectiousdiseasedoctor.net/ to get a free consultation. We have the best doctors that can help you and improve your quality of life!
