What is the right age for cervical cancer vaccine? Is it necessary to take cervical cancer vaccine? How long does the cervical cancer vaccine last?
What is the right age for cervical cancer vaccine?
For all girls who can afford it, the Indian Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Immunization (IAPCOI) suggests administering the HPV vaccine. Females as young as 9 years old, as well as those who have not finished their vaccinations by the age of 13, can receive the vaccine.
Girls and boys between the ages of 11 and 12 should receive the HPV vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It can be administered as young as age 9. The vaccine should be given to both boys and girls before they engage in sexual activity and are exposed to HPV. According to research, getting the vaccine at a young age is not associated with an earlier onset of sexual activity.
Every 11- and 12-year-old is given the HPV vaccine twice, each at least six months apart. Teenagers ages 13 and 14 and younger adolescents ages 9 and 10 can also receive vaccinations on a two-dose schedule. The two-dose regimen is effective for children under 15 according to research.
Teenagers and young adults who start the vaccination series later, between the ages of 15 and 26, should have the vaccine in three doses.
Both boys and girls should receive the HPV vaccine between the ages of 11 and 12. Up to the age of 26, it is admissible. However, the benefit is minimal above that age (up to 46 years) and is only offered under certain circumstances (Dr. Sandeep Nayak). Later on, it does offer protection, but it is considerably less. Ideal HPV vaccine age ranges are from 9 to 25 years old. After that, it is not required (Dr. Raizada).
The vaccine is 90% effective at preventing HPV 16 and 18 infection if administered between the ages of 9 and 14. If the vaccination is received later in life, let’s say after age 25, the effectiveness to prevent HPV infection falls to roughly 60 to 70% (Dr. Shweta Goswami).
Is it necessary to take cervical cancer vaccine?
The majority of occurrences of cervical cancer are linked to different HPV strains, which are transmitted through sexual contact. If the vaccination is administered before girls or women are exposed to the virus, it can prevent the majority of occurrences of cervical cancer. Additionally, vulvar and vaginal cancer can be avoided with this vaccine. Additionally, the vaccine protects both men and women from genital warts, anal cancer, and mouth, throat, head, and neck malignancies.
The vaccine may still be beneficial to you even if you already have one strain of HPV since it can shield you from other strains that you don’t yet have. None of the vaccines, however, can reverse an active HPV infection. You are only protected by the immunizations from certain HPV strains to which you have not been exposed.
Infection with HPV is very widespread. The majority of sexually active persons will contract HPV at some point in their lives. Infected women with HPV may experience abnormal cervix cell growth. Cervical cancer will result from these HPV-induced alterations in a tiny percentage of women. Each year, 12,000 women receive a cervical cancer diagnosis, and 4,000 of them pass away. The HPV vaccine protects against the HPV strains that cause the majority of cervical malignancies.
For the HPV strains they cover, HPV vaccinations are quite successful at preventing infection. The HPV vaccine significantly lowers a woman’s risk of developing cervical cancer and precancerous growths.
If you are moderately or severely unwell, it is advisable to forgo the cervical cancer vaccine. Vaccinations should also be avoided by expectant mothers. If you currently have an HPV infection or a disease caused by HPV, the cervical cancer vaccination is not intended to treat those conditions; nevertheless, it may still be advised as a preventative measure against other HPV strains.
If a person receives the series of doses before to engaging in sexual activity, the vaccine has the best chance of preventing infection. A girl may not be sexually active right now, but she most likely will be later on in life. Teenage or young adult girls who catch HPV may go on to develop cancer years later. Therefore, getting the shot on schedule can assist safeguard your daughter’s health both now and in the future.
How long does the cervical cancer vaccine last?
Gardasil, Cervarix, and Gardasil 9 have been found to provide protection against infections with the targeted HPV types for at least 10 years, up to 11 years, respectively. The duration of protection will be better understood thanks to ongoing long-term investigations on vaccination effectiveness.
Durations may differ because there are several vaccines available. However, in general, the HPV vaccine can offer up to 10 years of protection. Although receiving the vaccination will lower your risk of developing cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers, it is still vital to see your gynaecologist for regular gynaecological exams and preventive care as necessary.
According to studies, it completely prevents cervical precancers and noninvasive cervical malignancies brought on by HPV-16 and 18 in those who have not yet been exposed to those strains. Results over the long term are not yet certain. The protection could last longer.
All women who receive the HPV vaccine should also undergo routine cervical screenings once they turn 25 because the HPV vaccine does not provide protection against all kinds of HPV that might result in cervical cancer. Since not all HPV types are covered by the vaccine, not every occurrence of cervical cancer will be prevented. It will be crucial for women to continue getting checked for cervical cancer because some cases won’t be avoided by the vaccine. Additionally, the vaccine does not protect against other STDs (STIs). So it will still be crucial for those who engage in sexual activity to reduce their risk of contracting other STIs.
Conclusion
Because the vaccination guards against the majority of HPV types that cause cervical cancer but not all of them, vaccinated women will still require routine screenings for the disease. Women who received the vaccination after beginning sexual activity could not benefit fully from it if they had already been exposed to HPV. The majority of cervical cancer cases can be avoided with routine Pap and HPV screenings and follow-up. Before they develop into cancer, the Pap test can identify cellular abnormalities in the cervix. The HPV test seeks out the virus that can bring about these cellular alterations. Most cervical cancers can be found by screening, but not all, can be found at an early, curable stage.
If condoms are used throughout each and every sexual act, from beginning to end, they may reduce the risk of HPV infection for people who are sexually active. Additionally, using condoms may reduce your chance of contracting infections linked to HPV (genital warts and cervical cancer). But condoms may not provide complete protection against HPV because the virus can spread to places that are not covered by them.
The vaccinations you could require depend on your health, age, way of living, and line of work. It has been demonstrated to prevent 90% of cancer-causing HPV when dosages are administered at the prescribed ages and at the proper intervals. Since the introduction of HPV vaccines, there has been a decrease in the number of cervical precancers.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6249453/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hpv-infection/in-depth/hpv-vaccine/art-20047292
https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/parents/vaccine-for-hpv.html