Questions About How Hpv Vaccine Is Made And Works
Q. How long does it take for someone to be protected after getting the HPV vaccine?
A. It takes about two weeks after the first dose of vaccine for the immune system to generate an immune response. The additional doses make that response stronger, particularly the last one which fortifies the memory response.
Q. If I got the HPV vaccine, do I need to use protection?
A. It is important to understand that the HPV vaccine does not protect against other STDs, such as syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and herpes, nor does it protect against types of HPV to which one was already exposed. For these reasons, using protection is still prudent to consider.
I have had one dose of the HPV vaccine. Will I be protected if I become sexually active?
While you may have some protection after receiving the first dose of HPV vaccine, your best level of protection will occur after you receive all recommended doses.
I did not tell the doctor that I am sexually active before getting the HPV vaccine. Will it still work?
The HPV vaccine will not protect you against types of HPV to which you may have already been exposed however, it will protect you against types to which you were not previously exposed. Since the vaccine protects against nine types of HPV, it is likely that you can still benefit from receiving the vaccine. For this reason, knowing your sexual activity status is not a requirement for deciding whether or not you should get the HPV vaccine.
Will an HPV booster shot ever be required?
A Womens Health Expert Answers Questions About A Very Common Sexually Transmitted Infection
Alamy
Many individuals worry about STDs, such as chlamydia or herpes. But theres another extremely common one you need to be aware of.
If youre sexually active, youve likely been exposed to the virus that causes genital warts, called the human papillomavirus . Genital warts appear as growths or bumps that are flesh-colored or whitish. They may be small or large, raised or flat, and appear singly or in groups.
While genital warts generally do not cause such symptoms as itching or pain, many people find them embarrassing, and they can be spread from person to person.
Will My Health Insurance Cover The Vaccination
Most health insurance covers the cost of the HPV vaccine series. Ask your insurance company to make sure. The HPV vaccine is part of the Vaccines for Children program. This program covers the cost of the HPV vaccine. It also covers the cost of other vaccines for free up to age 19 for families without insurance.
To learn more about human papillomavirus, see HPV Vaccines and HPV and HPV testing.
To learn more about how HPV vaccination helps prevent cancer, visit Mission: HPV Cancer Free.
Also Check: Does My Health Insurance Cover Shingles Vaccine
The Hpv Vaccine Welcomed Life
NS NHS Deployment HPV vaccine It prevented hundreds of women from developing cervical cancer and thousands of women from experiencing precancerous cellular changes.
According to a study funded by Cancer Research UK, women in their 20s who were vaccinated between the ages of 12 and 13 now had an 87% lower incidence of cervical cancer than the unvaccinated population. ..
The number of rare cases in this age group has also decreased from about 50 to just 5 per year.
What Is Hpv Vaccine
HPV vaccine helps protects against a virus that causes several cancers that can affect anyone. These include cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina and anus in women, or cancers of the anus and penis in men, and possibly throat cancers for both men and women. The vaccine is also effective at preventing genital warts.
- The vaccine works by causing your bodys immune system to produce its own protection against the HPV types most likely to cause cancer or genital warts.
- If an immunised person comes into contact with HPV, the antibodies in their blood will fight the virus and protect them against being infected.
- It usually takes several weeks after vaccination to develop protection against HPV.
Protection from the vaccine is long-lasting and is not expected to wear off over time.
You May Like: Do Private Schools In California Require Vaccinations
Things To Know About The Hpv Vaccine
Karen Lui, MD, a pediatrician at Rush, shares eight things you should know about HPV and the vaccine
If you have sex now, had sex in the past or will have sex in the future, theres an excellent chance youve had, have or will someday get human papillomavirus , the sexually transmitted infection that is linked to several cancers. In fact, as many as 80 percent of people in the U.S. women and men will at some point contract HPV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The good news: The next generation of children and young adults may not face these odds thanks to the HPV vaccine. The CDC recommends vaccinating girls and boys at age 11 or 12, before they become sexually active, to help prevent the rampant transmission that has come to define HPV.
But due to controversy about vaccinating young people against a sexually transmitted infection and parental concerns about possible long-term effects of these relatively new vaccines, many children, teens and young adults aren’t getting vaccinated, leaving them vulnerable to future HPV infection. Also, research has shown that getting the HPV vaccine does not encourage kids to become sexually active or start having sex at a younger age a common concern cited by parents.
Here Karen Lui, MD, a pediatrician at Rush, shares eight more things you should know about HPV and the vaccine.
Where Can I Get Vaccinated
The best place to go for vaccinations is your family medical clinic. They have your medical records and can check to see if youve already had a particular vaccination. Either your doctor or a nurse can give the vaccination.If you dont have a family doctor, you can go to one of the after-hour medical clinics. Phone them first to make sure they can help you with the vaccination you need.You can find a clinic near you on the Healthpoint website. Put in your address and region, and under Select a service, click on GPs/Accident & Urgent Medical Care.Vaccines on the National Immunisation Schedule are free. Other vaccines are funded only for people at particular risk of disease. You can choose to pay for vaccines that you are not eligible to receive for free.
Recommended Reading: When Do I Get My Kitten Vaccinated
When Should Adults Get The Hpv 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.
CDC guidelines recommend the two doses of the HPV vaccine. Some adults may have received doses of the HPV vaccine in childhood or adolescence. Re-vaccination in adulthood is recommended if the vaccination schedule was not completed.
Why Should The Hpv Vaccine Be Given To Pre
The vaccine work best at this age. Research shows that younger people have a better immune response to the vaccine than those in their late teens and early 20s. And, the vaccines will prevent the covered types of HPV only if they are given before exposure to the virus.
This is also an age when other vaccinations are given, and when children are likely to still be getting regular medical check-ups.
Don’t Miss: Do You Have To Be Vaccinated To Join The Military
How Does Hpv Infection Lead To Cervical Cancer
Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by HPV infections. Once infected, most people do not develop any noticeable symptoms.
According to WHO, it takes 15 to 20 years for cervical cancer to develop in women with normal immune systems. It can take only five to ten years in women with weakened immune systems, such as those with untreated HIV infection.
Since early cervical cancer doesn’t cause symptoms, it’s vital that women have regular screening tests.
Getting vaccinated against HPV infection is your best protection from cervical cancer.
Hpv Testing And Treatment
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a helpful resource for understanding Pap and HPV tests.
What tests can a woman have related to HPV?
Two tests for women are available:
- Pap test A Pap test is done by scraping some cells from the cervix and examining them microscopically. A normal result means your cells looked as expected an abnormal result means that the cells appeared to have undergone some changes. This does not mean you have cervical cancer. In some cases the cell changes are minor and will return to normal when tested in the future. In other cases the changes are more dramatic and need to be monitored more closely.
- HPV test The HPV test determines if the human papillomavirus is present in the cervix.
Find out if you qualify for free or reduced cost screening through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and where near you offers the program.
Can HPV tests replace Pap tests?
No, HPV tests should not replace routine Pap tests for two reasons:
Is there a test to determine if I have HPV?
When a person is tested for STDs is HPV testing included?
I got all necessary doses of the HPV vaccine. Do I still need to get Pap tests?
Read Also: What Is The Meningococcal Acwy Vaccine
Do You Need To Show Id Or Proof Of Insurance To Get The Vaccine
The answer is no. States across the country — from Massachusetts and Connecticut to Minnesota and Oregon — will vaccinate you without needing to show proof of insurance or identification. You also do not need to show proof of citizenship to receive a shot. And the initial vaccine shots and booster are available free of charge.
However, it can be confusing. Different vaccination sites may have different guidelines and ask you to bring an ID and your health insurance card with you. But you shouldn’t need either one to receive a shot. And if one vaccination site does require ID or proof of insurance, keep looking.
How Is The Hpv Vaccine Given
The HPV vaccine is given as 2 injections into the upper arm spaced at least 6 months apart.
It’s important to have both doses of the vaccine to be properly protected.
If you missed the HPV vaccine offered in school Year 8, you can get it for free up until your 25th birthday.
But if you get your 1st vaccine dose at the age of 15 or over, you’ll need to have 3 injections.
Men who have sex with men , and trans men and trans women who are eligible for the vaccine, will need 3 doses of the vaccine .
If you need 3 doses of the vaccine:
- the 2nd dose should be given at least 1 month after the 1st dose
- the 3rd dose should be given at least 3 months after the 2nd dose
It’s important to have all 3 vaccine doses to be properly protected.
Also Check: Does The Hpv Vaccine Prevent Hpv
Can I Be Treated For Hpv Or Health Problems Caused By Hpv
There is no treatment for the virus itself. However, there are treatments for the health problems that HPV can cause:
How Do I Know If I Have Hpv
There is no test to find out a persons HPV status. Also, there is no approved HPV test to find HPV in the mouth or throat.
There are HPV tests that can be used to screen for cervical cancer. These tests are only recommended for screening in women aged 30 years and older. HPV tests are not recommended to screen men, adolescents, or women under the age of 30 years.
Most people with HPV do not know they are infected and never develop symptoms or health problems from it. Some people find out they have HPV when they get genital warts. Women may find out they have HPV when they get an abnormal Pap test result . Others may only find out once theyve developed more serious problems from HPV, such as cancers.
Recommended Reading: What Vaccines Are You Given At Birth
Does Hpv Cause Cancer
HPV can cause cervical and other cancers including cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, or anus. It can also cause cancer in the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils .
Cancer often takes years, even decades, to develop after a person gets HPV. The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same as the types of HPV that can cause cancers.
There is no way to know which people who have HPV will develop cancer or other health problems. People with weak immune systems may be less able to fight off HPV. They may also be more likely to develop health problems from HPV.
What Can I Do To Protect Myself Against Hpv
While the possibility of becoming infected is scary, there are plenty of things you can do to reduce your chances of getting HPV. Though it can’t prevent all HPV infections, the vaccine is an important first step. Gardasil will ultimately protect you from many of the most aggressive and harmful strains of HPV but in order to get the best protection possible, you should get all three doses of the vaccine. “Even if get one vaccine and don’t get the other two, they still have some protection, but you get better protection if you complete the full vaccine series,” Dr. Askew said.
Beyond getting vaccinated, it’s important to practice safe sex , and keep an open line of communication with your partner about any exposure they’ve had. Make sure you’re getting tested for sexually transmitted infections, too.
Don’t Miss: Which Pneumonia Vaccine For Over 65
Hpv Vaccine: What Age Is Too Late
All males and females ages 926 should get the HPV vaccine. It is mosteffective when given at ages 1112. Unvaccinated men and women ages2745 should talk to their doctor about the benefits of the vaccine.
Its likely youve heard about the HPV vaccine. This vaccine can protect your child against the human papillomavirus . This virus causes several types of cancer, including cervical, anal, vulvar, vaginal, penile and oropharyngeal cancers.
The HPV vaccine is recommended for pre-teens. But why? And does it work for older teens and adults? When it comes to the HPV vaccine, how late is too late?
There are a lot of questions surrounding the HPV vaccine. We spoke with Lois Ramondetta, M.D., professor of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine. Heres what she told us about the age range for the HPV vaccine.
Males and females ages 9 to 45 can get the vaccine
The CDC recommends all boys and girls get the HPV vaccine between the ages of 11 and 12, the age for optimal protection. They should get two shots, six to 12 months apart.
Vaccines given to 14 or 15 year olds are late and less effective, Ramondetta says.
In fact, patients 15 and older should receive three shots over the course of six months to receive the same benefit.
The bottom line: All males and females ages 926 should get the HPV vaccine. It is most effective when given at ages 1112. Unvaccinated men and women ages 2745 should talk to their doctor about the benefits of the vaccine.
Lois Ramondetta, M.D.
How Long Do I Need To Wait To Get Pregnant After Receiving The Hpv Vaccine What If I Got The Hpv Vaccine Before I Knew I Was Already Pregnant
How long do I need to wait to get pregnant after receiving the HPV vaccine? What if I got the HPV vaccine before I knew I was already pregnant?
There is no recommendation that a person waits any length of time to get pregnant after receiving the HPV vaccine. If you are planning a pregnancy, its recommended that you talk to your health care provider about which vaccines you may need before, during and after pregnancy. Find more information in our pregnancy section.
If you received the HPV before you knew you were pregnant, please tell your pregnancy care provider. The HPV vaccine should not be given during pregnancy because the safety of the vaccine during pregnancy has not been well studied. However, no medical intervention is needed. The decision to terminate a pregnancy should not be based on receiving the HPV vaccine during pregnancy. Finish your HPV vaccine series when you are no longer pregnant.
COVID-19 pandemic
If you have questions about COVID-19 vaccines, please go here. Immunization is an essential service, and health units are continuing to hold immunization clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, services vary across the province. Please contact your local health unit for information on immunization services during COVID-19 in your area.
Don’t Miss: What Is Abbreviation For Meningococcal Vaccine
How Effective Is The Hpv Vaccine In Preventing Hpv
When doses are given at the recommended ages and at the appropriate intervals, it has been shown to prevent 90% of cancer-causing HPV. Research has also shown that fewer teens and young adults are getting genital warts. The number of cervical precancers are decreasing since HPV vaccines have been in use.