With the rising burden of cervical cancer cases in our country, Nigeria, the government of Anambra State deemed it necessary for there to be immunization against the biggest causative factor, HPV. it's been quite a hectic week with the ongoing awareness campaign.
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The HPV vaccine awareness campaign started on November 25, 2024. This is done in a bid to reduce the level of noncompliance we will encounter during the vaccination program. Nigerians are currently living in fear and has lost all the trust they have in their government; this has led to skepticism even when the government genuinely wants to do good.
That aside, let's focus on HPV.
With this post, I will be answering some of the questions that raises concern for this vaccine....
What is HPV?
HPV stands for Human papillomavirus. They are family of viruses that cause lots of diseases but the two most popular diseases they cause are the genital warts and cervical cancers.
For these diseases, there are different strains of the virus responsible for causing them too and for the cervical cancer, it is the HPV strains 16 and 18.
Cervical cancer is the cancer that affects the cervix of the female reproductive organ, the cervix is just like "the neck of the uterus."This cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide and it is very lethal if patient presents late just like every other cancer, but then, the good thing is that this cancer is quite treatable at the early stages and preventable too with this vaccine.
Who is Eligible?
Every female aged 9 to 65 years is eligible to take HPV vaccine, however, because of the scarcity of this vaccine, the government prioritizes girls aged 9 to 14years.
Does the HPV vaccine prevents other types of cancers too?
No! HPV vaccine specifically targets the causative organisms that causes cervical cancer which are the HPV strains 16 and 18.
Does it have Dosage?
Of course it does. Every eligible female just needs a shot of the vaccine (Gardasil is commonly used in Nigeria) but if there's anyone who already is immunocompromised, two shots of the vaccine is recommended.
Can Boys Be Vaccinated?
In countries where the vaccines are enough, boys are vaccinated to prevent other HPV-related diseases, however in Nigeria, boys are not vaccinated because of the scarcity of the vaccine.
Reiterating what I said initially, the reason for the vaccination is because of the increasing burden of cervical cancer, the male gender does not have cervix.
Where Can You Get Vaccinated?
You can get yourself or child vaccinated at any government owned hospitals or health centers across the whole country and guess what? It's entirely free!
Is it Mandatory?
Life is all about choices and you've got right of autonomy so no treatment is ever made compulsory, however, it is highly recommended you protect yourself against this virus.
Does HPV vaccine have Side effects?
Yes! Just like every other vaccine, it has side effects but they're are all mild.
May range from headache, swelling and redness on the injected site but serious adverse effects has not been recorded at all.
It is entirely safe.
Other Risk Factors For Cervical Cancer?
While HPV strains 16 and 18 cause 90% of the cervical cancers worldwide, other factors can also increase the risk and they includes:
- Early debut to sexual activities
- Extreme of ages
- Multiple sexual partners
- Unprotected sexual intercourse
- Smoking
- Immunocompromised state
SPREAD THE WORD
No one deserves to die from cervical cancer. Together we can fight this disease and ensure a healthier future for everyone.
To Read More About Cervical Cancer...
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12216-cervical-cancer
Thanks for reading and have a nice day 👍