Who Can Have The Hpv Vaccine Through The Nhs Vaccination Programme
The 1st dose of the HPV vaccine is routinely offered to girls and boys aged 12 and 13 in school Year 8. The 2nd dose is offered 6 to 24 months after the 1st dose.
If you miss either of your HPV vaccine doses, speak to your school immunisation team or GP surgery and make an appointment to have the missed dose as soon as possible.
It’s important to have both doses of the vaccine to be fully protected.
If youre eligible and miss the HPV vaccine offered in Year 8 at school, its available for free on the NHS up until your 25th birthday for:
- girls born after 1 September 1991
- boys born after 1 September 2006
People who have the 1st dose of the HPV vaccine at 15 years of age or above will need to have 3 doses of the vaccine. This is because they do not respond as well to 2 doses as younger people do.
Read more about HPV vaccination safety and the possible side effects.
Benefits Of Hpv Vaccine Protection
HPV can lead to cervical cancer and other cancers of the vagina, vulva, penis, anus, and throat. Vaccination is one of the best tools available to help protect against these cancers.
The HPV vaccine has been available since 2006, and ongoing monitoring has shown the vaccine to be safe and effective.
Since its introduction in the United States, HPV infections that cause genital warts and certain cancers have decreased by 88% in teen girls and 81% in women.
Will My Insurance Cover The Cost Of The Hpv Vaccine
Most insurance plans cover routine vaccines, which means that if you’re in the recommended age group, your insurance should pay for the vaccine. Check with your insurance company just to be sure. If your family doesn’t have health insurance or you’re on Medicaid, you should be able to get the HPV vaccine for free through the Vaccines for Children program.
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Boys Should Also Be Vaccinated
In addition to preventing genital warts, studies have shown that the HPV vaccine can help prevent anal cancer in men. Preliminary research has also found that the HPV vaccine may protect against penile, oral and throat cancers which are on the rise in young men.
By 2020, HPV is projected to cause more oropharyngeal cancers than cervical cancers in the U.S., says Lui.
Another important reason to vaccinate boys is to protect the community at large. If you vaccinate boys, you can help prevent them from contracting HPV infection and, subsequently, from spreading it to their current and future sexual partners. When you protect boys, youre also protecting girls and vice versa, Lui says.
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.
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Hpv Vaccine For Girls And Boys
The HPV vaccine has been offered to girls in their first year of secondary school since 2010. This is because the most common cancer caused by the HPV virus is cervical cancer which only affects women.
Since September 2019, boys have also been offered the HPV vaccine. This is because HPV can cause cancers and genital warts in boys too.
The more young people vaccinated – both boys and girls – the better we can control the spread of the infection.
How Effective Are Hpv Vaccines
Clinical trials have shown that HPV vaccines are highly effective in preventing cervical infection with the types of HPV they target when given before first exposure to the virusthat is, before individuals begin to engage in sexual activity. HPV vaccines have also been found to reduce infections in other tissues that HPV infects, including the anus and oral region .
Because the cell changes and cancers caused by HPV take years to develop, it has only recently been confirmed that the vaccines reduce the risk of these outcomes as well. Trials and real-world data from population-based studies have now demonstrated that the vaccines greatly reduce the risk of precancers and cancers of the cervix, vagina, and vulva in vaccinated women . A clinical trial of Gardasil in men indicated that it can prevent anal cell changes caused by persistent infection . The trials that led to approval of Gardasil 9 found it to be nearly 100% effective in preventing cervical, vulvar, and vaginal infections and precancers caused by all seven cancer-causing HPV types that it targets .
To date, protection against infections with the targeted HPV types has been found to last for at least 10 years with Gardasil , up to 11 years with Cervarix , and at least 6 years with Gardasil 9 . Long-term studies of vaccine efficacy that are still in progress will help scientists better understand how long protection lasts .
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Hpv Vaccination For Transgender People
Trans women are eligible in the same way as MSM if their risk of getting HPV is similar to the risk of MSM who are eligible for the HPV vaccine.
Trans men are eligible if they have sex with other men and are aged 45 or under.
If trans men have previously completed a course of HPV vaccination as part of the girls’ HPV vaccine programme, no further doses are needed.
Hpv Vaccination Is Very Safe
Each HPV vaccine 9-valent HPV vaccine , quadrivalent HPV vaccine , and bivalent HPV vaccine went through strict safety testing before the U.S. Food and Drug Administration licensed them. Over 15 years of monitoring and research during the vaccination program have continued to show that HPV vaccination is safe.
Gardasil® 9 was studied in clinical trials with more than 15,000 females and males.
Gardasil® was studied in clinical trials with more than 29,000 females and males.
Cervarix® was studied in clinical trials with more than 30,000 females.
Each vaccine was found to be safe and effective in clinical trials. Since late 2016, Gardasil® 9 has been the only HPV vaccine available for use in the United States.
As with all approved vaccines, CDC and FDA closely monitor the safety of HPV vaccines. Any detected safety concerns are reported to health officials, healthcare professionals, and the public.
More than 135 million doses of HPV vaccines have been distributed since they were licensed. Data continue to show the vaccines are safe and effective.
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Ongoing Screening For Hpv
Pap smears and HPV tests are the two available ongoing screening methods for HPV in women. Both tests are performed the same way by a healthcare provider.
The provider uses a tool called a speculum to collect cells from the cervix for testing. Pap tests look to see if the collected cells are normal, whereas HPV tests specifically look for HPV cells in the sample.
Regular inspection for genital warts is another way to screen for HPV. If you think you may have genital warts, talk to your healthcare provider about treatment options.
Some Hpv Infections Can Lead To Cancer
Most HPV infections go away by themselves within 2 years. But sometimes, HPV infections will last longer and can cause some cancers. HPV infections can cause cancers of the:
- Cervix, vagina, and vulva in women
- Penis in men
- Anus in both women and men
- Back of the throat , including the base of the tongue and tonsils, in both men and women
Every year in the United States, HPV causes about 36,000 cases of cancer in men and women.
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Conditions Caused By Hpv Infection
In girls, HPV infection can cause cancer of the:
- cervix
The HSE school vaccination teams will visit schools twice in students’ first year of secondary school.
Boys and girls will get 4 injections in total, 2 at each visit:
- Visit 1 from the end of September: HPV vaccine and Tdap vaccine.
- Visit 2 from March: HPV vaccine and MenACWY vaccine.
One vaccine is given in each arm.
School teams are restating clinics for school vaccinations from the end of September. The school teams know what students need to get their vaccines and will contact parents and guardians to offer vaccines to students.
The Importance Of Getting The Hpv Vaccine
HPV is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection in the United States. While its the primary cause of cervical cancer in women, men and women can contract HPV and develop health complications. Thats why vaccinating boys and girls is important.
Getting the HPV vaccine protects you or your child from numerous health issues, including:
- Cervical cancer
- Vulvar cancer
- Anal cancer
The HPV vaccine is backed by more than a decade of research. Its very safe, and it has been proven to reduce risk of cancer and other health complications. In fact, since the vaccination was introduced, cervical precancer in vaccinated women has dropped by 40%.
Side effects are rare, and are generally limited to mild pain around the injection site, dizziness, nausea, and headache. These side effects should disappear within a day or so of leaving the office.
Talk to our experts to learn more about getting the HPV vaccine. Whether your child is a pre-teen or youve never received the immunization yourself, we can help you determine the best course of treatment. Call us today in Marietta or Woodstock today, or request an appointment online.
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What If You Aren’t Sure If You Got The Hpv Vaccine
Those who started, but never finished the HPV vaccine series when they were younger should see their doctor for their last shots. “If you’re not sure how many doses of the HPV vaccine you’ve received, it’s better to err on the side of getting an extra dose,” Dr. White says.
You also don’t have to worry about the timing herewhile it’s best to get the shots at the recommended intervals, you won’t need to start the immunization process over again. “Even if the doses are off schedule, you can just finish the recommended number of doses. The series does not need to be restarted,” says Dr. Perkins.
For those who don’t remember whether or not they got the HPV vaccine as a child, the first step is to try and access your old medical records. If you can’t do that for whatever reason, Dr. White recommends re-starting the series. Even if you received an older version of the HPV vaccine while you were younger, it is safe to get the newer vaccine at a later date, Dr. Perkins says.
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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Can Hpv Be Prevented
Using condoms offers some protection, but you can still catch HPV because condoms do not cover the whole genital area.
The best way to protect yourself and others against HPV is to be vaccinated. In women, the vaccine protects against 9 types of HPV that cause cervical cancer it does not protect against all types of HPV. It also helps protect against genital warts and some types of vaginal, vulval and anal cancers.
In men, HPV vaccination helps protect against genital warts and some anal, penile and throat cancers.
The HPV vaccine is recommended for:
- adolescents aged 9 to 18 years
- people who have weakened immune systems
- men who have sex with men
The best time to be immunised is before you are sexually active. Boys and girls aged 12 to 13 receive the free HPV vaccine at school on the National Immunisation Program Schedule. It is also available for free to anyone under 20 if they were not vaccinated at school.
You can still be vaccinated if you have been infected with a type of HPV in the past.
Women who have received the HPV vaccine should still have regular cervical screening tests, since the vaccine does not cover all types of HPV. Women aged 25 to 70 need to be screened every 5 years, or 2 years after their last Pap smear.
Can Adults Older Than 26 Get The Hpv Vaccine
If you are older than 26 years old, you can still get the HPV vaccinebut there are a few caveats. First, the CDC specifically says it does not recommend HPV vaccination for everyone over the age of 26. The American Cancer Society goes a bit furtherthe organization specifically does not endorse HPV vaccination for those ages 2745.
The reasoning behind this is effectivenessspecifically the lack thereof. “People are usually exposed to HPV within a year or so of their first sexual experience,” says Dr. Perkins. That means there’s a low chance of cancer prevention from the vaccine in this age group.
Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t get the vaccine if you’re over 26: “You can still get the HPV vaccine if you’ve already had HPV,” says Dr. Perkins. “While it will not be as effective against the HPV type you currently have , you may be protected against other strains.”
In that case, some doctors even recommend the HPV vaccine for their patients, up to 45 years old. Kate White, MD, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Boston University School of Medicine is one of those doctorsshe tells Health she recommends all of her patients under the age of 45 to be vaccinated, even those in long-term monogamous relationships, just to err on the side of caution.
The CDC suggests adults ages 2745 who weren’t previously vaccinated against HPV speak with their doctor about their risk of new HPV infections, and any potential benefits they could reap from vaccination.
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What Else Do You Need To Make Your Decision
Check the facts
- That’s not right. The HPV vaccines protect against the most common types of HPV that cause problems.
- That’s right. The HPV vaccines protect against the most common types of HPV that cause problems.
- It may help to go back and read “Get the Facts.” The HPV vaccines protect against the most common types of HPV that cause problems.
- That’s right. The best time to get the vaccine is before you become sexually active. But it can prevent infection with HPV if you are already sexually active and don’t have HPV.
- That’s not right. The vaccine can prevent infection with HPV if you are already sexually active and don’t have HPV.
- It may help to go back and read “Get the Facts.” The vaccine can prevent infection with HPV if you are already sexually active and don’t have HPV.
- That’s right. The HPV vaccine is a series of 3 shots. For it to work best, you need to get all the shots.
- Sorry, that’s not right. The HPV vaccine is a series of 3 shots. For it to work best, you need to get all the shots.
- It may help to go back and read “Get the Facts.” The HPV vaccine is a series of 3 shots. For it to work best, you need to get all the shots.
1. How sure do you feel right now about your decision?
3. Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps.
Who Should Get Hpv Vaccination
The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices develops recommendations regarding all vaccination in the United States, including HPV vaccination. The current ACIP recommendations for HPV vaccination are :
- Children and adults ages 9 through 26 years. HPV vaccination is routinely recommended at age 11 or 12 years vaccination can be started at age 9 years. HPV vaccination is recommended for all persons through age 26 years who were not adequately vaccinated earlier.
- Adults ages 27 through 45 years. Although the HPV vaccine is Food and Drug Administration approved to be given through age 45 years, HPV vaccination is not recommended for all adults ages 27 through 45 years. Instead, ACIP recommends that clinicians consider discussing with their patients in this age group who were not adequately vaccinated earlier whether HPV vaccination is right for them. HPV vaccination in this age range provides less benefit because more people have already been exposed to the virus.
- Persons who are pregnant. HPV vaccination should be delayed until after pregnancy, but pregnancy testing is not required before vaccination. There is no evidence that vaccination will affect a pregnancy or harm a fetus.
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How Effective Is The Hpv Vaccine
There are three different types of HPV vaccines that have been approved by the FDA and they all protect against the nine HPV types that can cause cervical cancer. Studies have found that the efficacy of the vaccine can last up to 12 years or, possibly, longer. There are also significantly fewer women and teenage girls presenting with HPV since the vaccines were first approved in 2006.
Are you interested in learning more about the HPV vaccine? Want to talk with a gynecologist about whether the vaccine is right for you or your teenager? If so, call a gynecologist today to schedule a consultation.