Can Boys Get Hpv Vaccine

So Who Is Eligible For The Free Hpv Vaccine As Part Of The Immunisation Programme

There are two arms of the HPV immunisation programme: children in school, and men who have sex with men.

Children in school

Girls and boys are routinely offered the HPV vaccine in school when they are 12 or 13. Giving it at this point, before most girls and boys are sexually active, means they will be protected once they start having sex.

A first dose of the vaccine is given in year eight, and a second between six and 24 months later. If a child misses the opportunity while in school in the UK theyll be able to get the vaccine for free on the NHS up until they turn 25.

Men who have sex with men

Gay and bisexual men, or any other men who have sex with men , are eligible for a free HPV vaccine up until the age of 45. Some trans men and trans women are also eligible for a free vaccine under this arm of the programme, dependent on the level of their risk.

The Hpv Vaccine: Why Parents Really Choose To Refuse

Study results suggest safety concerns top the list, and that physicians need to step up their patient education and vaccine recommendations

Researchers explain the reasons for why parents chose not to get their child vaccinated with the HPV vaccineCredit: Johns Hopkins Medicine

human papillomavirus

The findings, published in the November issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health, could help public health officials and professional societies develop new interventions to increase rates of HPV vaccination.

The HPV vaccine has already shown promise in helping to stem long-rising rates of cancers transmitted by the virus, including an estimated 31,500 cases in the United States annually of cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, oropharynx and anus. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccinebeginning at age 9in 2006 for females and in 2009 for males. But it wasnt recommended for use in males until 2011 by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the group of medical experts that gives guidance on vaccines for the public. Worldwide studies have shown the vaccine to be virtually 100 percent effective and very safe, with the FDA concluding that the vast majority of side effects are minor, and that benefits continue to outweigh adverse events.

Who Should Not Get Hpv Vaccine

Tell your doctor about any severe allergies. Some people should not get some HPV vaccines if:

• They have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any ingredient of an HPV vaccine, or to a previous dose of HPV vaccine.
• They have an allergy to yeast .
• They are pregnant.

HPV vaccines are safe for children who are mildly ill, like those with a low-grade fever of less than 101 degrees, a cold, runny nose, or cough. People with a moderate or severe illness should wait until they are better.

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Vaccine Misinformation On Social Media

Why are more parents concerned now about vaccine safety than when it was first launched or in 2015 now that over 135 million doses have been administered in the United States? Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters, Ph.D., M.P.H., of the Duke University School of Medicine, and his colleagues .

Studies have shown that while individuals trust medical professionals for health information, a growing number are turning to the internet for first and second opinions about HPV, HPV vaccines, and HPV-associated cancer, they continued.

Unfortunately, some information about HPV vaccines and cancer found online and on social media is inaccurate. There has been a rise in negative and incorrect informationalso called misinformationabout HPV vaccines on social media in recent years, Dr. Sonawane noted. And research has shown that parents who are exposed to misinformation about HPV vaccines on social media are less likely to vaccinate their children.

Nationwide programs, such as CDCs Vaccinate with Confidence program, can help tackle vaccine misinformation and provide resources for effective communications, Dr. Sonawane said. There are also resources like smartphone apps, she added, that teach health care providers effective strategies for talking with parents about the HPV vaccine.

Who Shouldnt Have The Hpv Vaccine

Most people will be able to have the HPV vaccine. You should not have the HPV vaccine if:

• you had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the HPV vaccine
• you had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient of the vaccine
• you are pregnant.

If you feel unwell or have a high temperature on the day you are having the HPV vaccine, you should have it on another day instead. This is to avoid confusing the illness with any side effects of the vaccine.

If you are unsure about whether you or a child should have the HPV vaccine, it is best to speak with the school nurse, or a nurse or doctor at your GP surgery.

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Can I Get Tested For Hpv

No, there is currently no approved test for HPV in men.

CDC does not recommend routine testing for HPV in men. CDC also does not recommend routine testing for diseases from HPV before there are signs or symptoms in men. Some healthcare providers offer anal Pap tests to men who may be at greater risk for anal cancer. This includes men with HIV or men who receive anal sex. If you have symptoms and have concerns about cancer, please see a healthcare provider.

How Do We Know The Hpv Vaccines Are Safe

A vaccine can only be used in people if scientific tests, called clinical trials, show it’s safe and effective, and the benefits outweigh any risks.

The data from these trials is then looked over by a European Medicines Agency group called the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use.

If the committee is happy the trials show a vaccine is safe, it’ll grant a licence for use in the UK.

Gardasil 9, Gardasil and Cervarix all have EMA licences for use in the UK.

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How Long After Receiving The Hpv Vaccine Does It Take For The Vaccine To Work

The immune system takes one to two weeks to generate immunity to vaccines or infections. In the case of HPV vaccine, the first dose generates a primary immune response, so people will have some immunity, but protection can vary from one person to another. The last dose is important because it enhances the memory immune response. A person will have the greatest protection beginning about one to two weeks after receiving their last dose of the vaccine.

When Should Adults Get The Hpv Vaccine

The best time to get the HPV vaccine is before you’ve started having sexual activity. That’s why the CDC recommends that both boys and girls get their vaccination at age 11 or 12, although they can get the vaccine as early as age 9. If you’re 13 or older and you haven’t already been vaccinated, you can still get the vaccine.

It is recommended for all people through the age of 26. Some adults ages 27-45 may get the vaccine after talking with their doctor.

How many shots do I need?

The CDC recommends two doses of HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12 years. The second shot should be given 6-12 months after the first.

If you can get all shots prior to age 15, only two are needed. Three doses are needed if you get the first dose on or after your 15th birthday, and for people with weakened immune systems. The second dose should be given 1-2 months after the first dose. And the third dose should be given 6 months after the first dose.

If I already have HPV, will this vaccine treat it?

If you have a current HPV, the vaccine won’t get rid of it. But, if you have one type of HPV, the vaccine may prevent you from getting another type of the virus. There’s really no way to treat the virus once you have it, although there are treatments for diseases caused by HPV such as genital warts and genital cancers. This is why you should have regular pelvic exams and Pap tests to screen for cervical cancer.

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What Do The Vaccines Protect Against

Gardasil® provides protection against four HPV types: two that cause approximately 70 per cent of all cervical cancers and two that cause approximately 90 per cent of all anogenital warts in males and females . Gardasil®9 prevents up to an additional 14% of anogenital cancers caused by the additional five HPV types included in the vaccine.

Cervarix® provides protection against the two HPV types that cause approximately 70 per cent of all cervical cancers .

The HPV vaccines will not have an impact on an existing infection or any of the outcomes of an existing HPV infection, such as anogenital warts. The vaccines are preventative against infection with the virus types for which they are indicated. There is currently no vaccine that will give protection against all HPV types.

When Should You Be Vaccinated

The vaccines are given 2 or 3 times over a 6- to 12-month period. The timing of doses is important to make sure the vaccines are as effective as possible. If all doses of the vaccine are not given, or they are not given at the right time, you may not get the full benefit of the vaccine.

The vaccines are most effective if theyre given before a person becomes sexually active because their risk of infection will be lower. The vaccines are also more effective in young teens when the immune system is most responsive to the vaccine.

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How Hpv Is Spread

Human papillomavirus infection is very common with as many as half the population infected with HPV some time in their lives. You can catch it through intimate sexual contact with another person who already has the virus.

There are over 100 types of HPV but only 13 of them are known to cause cancer. There are usually no symptoms, so many wont realise they are infected.

Most of the time, the virus does not cause cancer. This is because it is killed off by the bodys immune system, but not always. Some infections persist and lead to cancer or genital warts – this is why the vaccine is so important.

The Hpv Vaccine Protects Against Cancer The Vaccine Is Safe And Effective

What are HPV vaccines?

• The HPV vaccines protect against infection from certain types of human papillomavirus that cause cancers of the anus, cervix, mouth and throat, penis, vagina, and vulva as well as genital warts
• There are two HPV vaccines available in Canada: Cervarix® and Gardasil®9 . The HPV9 vaccine is approved for use in both males and females. The HPV2 vaccine is only approved for use in females.

• Both vaccines protect against 2 types of HPV that cause about 70% of cases of cervical cancer and 80% of cases of anal cancer. The HPV9 vaccine protects against 5 additional types of HPV that cause 15% to 20% of cervical cancers and 11% of anal cancers in women and 4% in men.

• The HPV9 vaccine also protects against 2 types of HPV that cause about 90% of cases of genital warts.

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Why Is The Hpv Vaccine Recommended

HPV can cause some types of cancer and genital warts. The vaccine is an important way to prevent infection and the spread of HPV. It works best when given before someone might be exposed to the virus.

The HPV vaccine doesn’t protect against all types of HPV. So people who are sexually active should always use condoms. Girls and women should see their gynecologist regularly and get pap smears as recommended .

Will Girls/women Who Have Been Vaccinated Still Need Cervical Cancer Screening

The HPV vaccines currently available do not protect against all types of HPV. Even when someone is vaccinated, it is still possible to become infected with one of the types of HPV that the vaccine does not protect against. Therefore, it is important that vaccinated girls/women continue to have regular Pap tests. For more information, see the “It’s Your Health” Fact Sheet on screening for cervical cancer . The recommendations for Pap screening vary depending on the province or territory you live in. Ask your local health care provider about the recommendations in your region.

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How You Can Get Hpv

HPV which stands for Human Papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted virus that you can catch from an infected person through:

• sexual activity, including oral sex
• intimate skin-to-skin contact with an infected person

You don’t have to have intercourse to get HPV.

Without immunization, three out of four sexually active Canadians will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives.

Why Do We Need A Vaccine For Hpv

We need a vaccine for HPV because certain high-risk strains are known to cause cancers of the cervix, mouth, throat, anus, vagina, vulva, and penis.

HPV spreads very easily via skin-to-skin contact. Genital warts and the high-risk strains can be spread during sex or genital touching. Using condoms doesn’t offer complete protection.

There is no cure for any of the HPV strains, but the vaccine can stop you from getting the high-risk strains.

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Questions About Hpv Vaccine Safety

I dont want to get the HPV vaccine for my child because I have heard that all of the safety studies were completed by the vaccine manufacturer. Is this true?

Vaccine safety is studied by many, many groups not just those who manufacture vaccines. The FDA reviews all data associated with studies completed by vaccine manufacturers as well as visiting manufacturing sites and continuing to monitor the vaccine as long as it is being made. Additionally, the CDC has systems in place to monitor vaccine safety, including:

• Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System which allows anyone to report side effects, allowing CDC scientists to watch for trends.
• Vaccine Safety Datalink is a collaboration with eight large healthcare organizations from various parts of the United States. Health records are monitored for vaccine receipt and illnesses to study vaccine safety.
• Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment Project is a national group of vaccine experts from the CDC, seven medical research centers, and other experts who conduct research around specific vaccine safety concerns, provide consultations for individual healthcare providers on specific patients, and review adverse event data. Vaccine manufacturers do not have a role in these studies.

Can the HPV vaccine cause cancer?

No. Because the HPV vaccine is made using only a single protein from each type of the virus, it cant cause HPV infection, and, therefore, it cant cause cervical cancer or other cancers.

What Are The Different Types Of Hpv And What Do They Do

There are more than 100 different types of HPV, and around 40 that affect the genital area.

HPV is very common and can be caught through any kind of sexual contact with another person who already has it.

Most people will get an HPV infection at some point in their lives and their bodies will get rid of it naturally without treatment.

But some people infected with a high-risk type of HPV will not be able to clear it.

Over time, this can cause abnormal tissue growth as well as other changes, which can lead to cancer if not treated.

High-risk types of HPV are linked to different types of cancer, including:

• some cancers of the head and neck

Infection with other types of HPV may cause:

• genital warts small growths or skin changes on or around the genital or anal area they’re the most common viral sexually transmitted infection in the UK
• skin warts and verrucas not on the genital area
• warts on the voice box or vocal cords

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Men Get Cancers Caused By Hpv In Large Numbers Too

From 2013 to 2017, there were approximately 25,000 cases of HPV-associated cancers in women and 19,000 in men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than four out of every ten cases of cancer caused by HPV are in men.

HPV should be of concern to all since men and women are affected virtually the same by this virus, says Abraham Aragones, an MSK physician who also studies public health.

Does The Immunisation Protect Me From Other Sexually Transmitted Infections

The HPV vaccine is designed to protect you against the 2 types of HPV that cause 75% of cervical cancer cases.

These 2 types of HPV also cause around:

• 90% of anal cancers
• 85% of head and neck cancers
• 78% of vaginal cancers
• 25% of vulval cancers across the world.

The statistics on cancers caused by HPV are different from country to country.

The vaccine also protects against 2 other types of HPV. These cause around 90% of cases of genital warts.

However, having this immunisation won’t protect you against any other sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia.

To get the best protection it’s important you have all the required doses. If you miss the immunisation session in school, you’ll be recalled to the next one.

The most important thing is to have all the required doses as soon as they’re offered at school. If you’ve left school or are unsure if you’ve missed any vaccinations, contact your GP.

You should be given a consent form and leaflet by your school. You and your parents, or carer, should discuss the information before agreeing to have the immunisation. When you’re given the consent form, you and your parents will be asked to sign it and return it to your school even if you aren’t going to have the vaccine.

We recommend you get agreement from your parent or carer, but it isn’t always necessary.

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