Health Report : How safe is the HPV vaccine
Every year in the UK there are 2,800 new cases of cervical cancer and 1,000 women die from it. So it was a cause for celebration when, just over three years ago, the Government introduced a vaccination course to safeguard girls against this disease.
The Cervarix jab protects against the two strains of the human papilloma virus (HPV) – HPV-16 and HPV-18 – which cause more than 70 per cent of cervical cancer cases. There are more than 100 different types of HPV, a virus usually spread via sexual contact. Many are harmless or cause genital warts, but 13 strains have been found to disrupt the functioning of the cells of the cervix, causing them to reproduce and trigger the onset of cancer. The vaccine, given as three jabs over six months, prevents these two HPVs from developing in the first place, but it cannot get rid of these sexually transmitted infections if they are already present, which is why they’re only offered on the NHS to young girls who are less likely to be having sex. However, they are now available privately to older women and companies like Boots have started advertising the course of three jabs for around £300. Within a year of the vaccine being launched concerns about its safety began to surface and in the first two years 4,703 parents around the UK reported their daughters had developed reactions. Most of these were very minor but a small number complained of frightening side effects such as paralysis, sight problems and even brain damage. According to an NHS spokesman, there is no need to worry. They say, “The vaccine’s safety record is excellent and it has passed the safety
tests needed for it to be used in the UK and other European countries.”
Five extra ways to protect against cervical cancer:
1. Never miss a smear test.
2. Think about your contraception.
3. Give up smoking.
4. Limit your number of sexual partners to reduce your chance of contracting a cancercausing HPV.
5. Know your own body. There are often no symptoms in the early stages of cervical cancer.
To read more, please turn to page 78 of your February issue or click here to subscribe.
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