HPV is a virus that causes Cervical Cancer.
What is HPV?
HPV stands for human papillomavirus, which is a group of over 100 viruses. Different types of HPV cause different types of infections. Most people will get a HPV infection during their lifetime, from sexual activity. Most of these infections do not need treatment but they can cause genital warts and other skin infections. In some women, however, HPV causes changes in the cervix that can develop into cervical cancer.
How is HPV transmitted?
HPV can be transmitted during sexual intercourse or genital contact with an infected person. Transmission from mother to baby can also occur immediately before or after birth.
What is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer is a cancer of a woman’s cervix, the entrance to the womb. Each year in Ireland about 250 women get cervical cancer and 80 women die from it. Cervical cancer is caused by HPV infection.
How does HPV infection cause cervical cancer?
HPV can infect the cells on the surface of the cervix and damage them, causing their appearance to change and lead to abnormalities in these cells over a number of years.
These abnormalities are known as Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) These changes can be classified according to their severity.
Mild lesions are known as CIN 1 and severe lesions are described as CIN 2/3. In some cases these more severe lesions can develop into cervical cancer
The progression of mild and severe lesions to cancer takes many years so these abnormalities are known as pre-cancerous.
HPVs associated with cancer are called oncogenic or 'high risk' types. HPVs that do not cause cancer are termed 'low risk' types. Two of these 'low risk' types cause most genital warts. HPV types are referred to by number (the numbers refer to the order in which they were discovered).
Two types (16 and 18) cause 7 out of 10 cervical cancers.
How common is cervical cancer?
Worldwide cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women with an estimated 520,000 new cases and 274, 000 deaths in 2008
Can cervical cancer be prevented?
Cervical screening can detect pre-cancerous lesions and cervical cancer at an early stage when treatment can be successful. In countries where there are cervical cancer screening programmes there has been a marked decrease in cervical cancer.
Where can I find out more about the National Cervical Screening Programme?
More information on the cervical screening programme email us at projectco29ja@yahoo.com, or talk2caleb@yahoo.com
Who is getting the HPV vaccine?
All girls in 1st year in second level schools will be offered the HPV vaccine each year.
There will also be a HPV catch-up vaccination programme for girls in 6th year in second level schools in September 2011. This will be repeated for girls in 6th year in September 2012 and 2013.
Most girls will be vaccinated at school by HSE immunisation teams. Some will be invited to attend a HSE clinic to get the vaccine.
Why was HPV vaccine introduced into the National Immunisation Programme?
The HPV Vaccination Programme was introduced to protect girls from their future risk of cervical cancer.
Why is the HPV vaccine administered through a schools based programme?
Other countries such as Australia and the UK have shown that the best vaccine uptakes are obtained through a school based programme. Data from the UK found that immunisation through a school based programme achieved an uptake rate of 80% compared to 60%from GPs.
How does the school programme work?
The programme will target all girls in 1st year and 6th year of second level schools in September 2011, 2012 and 2013..
From September 2014 the programme will target all girls in 1st year of second level schools as all other girls will have already been offered the vaccine.
All girls require three doses of vaccine with a two month interval between the 1st and 2nd dose and a four month interval between the 2nd and 3rd doses.
What about girls in Special schools?
For special schools, vaccination will be offered in September 2011 to
- all girls who reach 12 years of age between 1st September 2011 and 31st August 2012
- girls who are 18 years and older on 1st September 2011
- girls who reach 18 years of age between 1st September 2011 and 31st August 2012
Why is the vaccine being given to 1st year girls?
The vaccine is given routinely to girls in 1st year of second level school so that it is in place well before adulthood and likely exposure to HPV.
Why should a girl in 6th year get the HPV vaccine?
Girls who get the vaccine are far less likely to develop cervical cancer or have genital warts, or other illnesses caused by HPV in the future.
The vaccine will also protect girls against some less common cancers, such as vaginal and vulval cancers.
What if a girl is already sexually active?
The vaccine works best if girls have it before they have any sexual contact with another person. This is why experts recommend girls have the vaccine aged 12–13. But if a girl is already sexually active it’s still a good idea to have the vaccine as it can still give some protection against HPV
What if a girl has already started a course of HPV vaccine?
If a girl has started a private course of HPV vaccine, it is best if she completes that course as planned. If she is to move into the HSE programme, she will need to provide records of her previous vaccinations. This is for the girl’s safety and will allow us to decide if we can include her in our programme. There is a space on the vaccine consent form to fill in this information.
Why is the vaccine given to girls only?
The HPV vaccine is being given to girls to protect them from cervical cancer.
What happens next?
In September schools will send girls and their parents/ guardians the HSE information packs. Please read the booklet, complete the enclosed consent form and return it to the school. If you are giving consent, it is for three doses of HPV vaccine.
Can the vaccine be given to boys?
HPV vaccines have also been shown to be effective in preventing infection in men. Studies are now being done to see if the vaccine should be routinely recommended for boys/men as well.
What should I do if I want to get younger or older sisters vaccinated?
You should wait until your younger or older girls reach First year or Sixth year in second level schools when they will be vaccinated free of charge through the HSE school based programme.
Older girls may visit their GP to obtain the vaccine privately. Younger girls should wait until they reach First Year in second level schools when they will be vaccinated free-of-charge through the HSE school programme.
Do girls who have been vaccinated still need to attend for cervical screening?
Yes. HPV vaccines only protect against 70% of cervical cancers. It is still important that girls to have regular smear tests when they are older.
Linking vaccination information to the Cervical Screening Programme
With consent, we will share girls' vaccination details with the National Cancer Screening Service. These will be linked to her future cancer screening record.
No comments:
Post a Comment