The new vaccine against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
£140
per dose
GARDASIL Vaccine is now available at The Health Station. It is a
hugely important medical advance. It is the first vaccine able to
protect against a major cause of cancer in women.
It is normally given by one of our nurses, after assessment and
consultation with you. You do not need to have a smear before you
have the vaccine, but you may decide that it is an appropriate time
for this.
What is HPV?
What does Gardasil do?
Who should get vaccinated?
Who should not receive
Gardasil? Possible
side effects? How
is Gardasil given?
Other important points.
Is
there any other ways to prevent HPV?
WHAT IS HPV?
HPV is a common sexually-transmitted virus that is passed on via
genital contact. There are more than 100 HPV types and they infect
genital areas and can cause genital warts, pre-cancerous
abnormalities of cells in the female genitals (cervix or vulva) and
cervical cancer. Sometimes they cause no harm and any infection goes
away on its own. However, sometimes the virus persists and causes
cells to change - this can lead to cervical cancer, genital
pre-cancerous lesions and genital warts.
WHAT DOES GARDASIL DO?
GARDASIL is a vaccine against the human papilloma virus (HPV). It
works by provoking the body's immune response to this virus, without
actually causing HPV infection or any of the diseases.
When the body is exposed to foreign organisms, such as viruses and
bacteria, the immune system produces antibodies against them.
Antibodies help the body recognise and kill the foreign organisms.
They then remain in the body to help protect the body against future
infections with the same organism.
GARDASIL contains inactivated extracts from four different types of
the human papilloma virus (HPV): - types 6, 11, 16 and 18. These
four types of HPV cause 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital
warts.
GARDASIL will not protect against diseases that are not caused by
HPV (i.e. other cancers and other sexually transmitted diseases).
GARDASIL may not protect against HPV types to which you have already
been exposed. Unfortunately there is currently no test available to
check which type you may or may not have.
WHO SHOULD GET VACCINATED?
GARDASIL has been shown in clinical trials to prevent the above
diseases in adult women aged 16 to 26 years. The vaccine has also
been shown to produce antibodies against HPV in children and
adolescents aged 9 to 15 years. It is not known if these antibodies
will prevent HPV disease in adult males. It is licensed for girls
and women from 9 to 26 years of age. The vaccine is safe and
effective in this age group. Ideally, females should get the vaccine
before they become sexually active, i.e. before they can be exposed
to HPV.
WHO SHOULD NOT RECEIVE
GARDASIL?
 | Sudden feverish illness. (The vaccine should be postponed
until after recovery.) |
| People allergic to vaccine ingredients |
| Pregnant women (Although it can be given to women who are
breastfeeding. It has not been shown to have any effect on a
nursing infant, or to be any less effective in women who are
breastfeeding |
| People with an underactive immune system (for instance,
those with HIV) |
| People taking certain medicines (such as chemotherapy or
high dose steroids) |
| This vaccine is not recommended for children under nine
years of age, as its safety and effectiveness have not been
studied in this age group |
| Males (as it not yet licensed for this use) |
Caution with:
| People at risk of bleeding after an injection into a
muscle, for example due to blood clotting disorders such as
haemophilia or a reduced platelet count in the blood
(thrombocytopenia). |
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
This vaccine contains no live virus and so cannot cause infection
with HPV or any of the diseases HPV can cause. It is usually well
tolerated.
The most likely side effects include - pain, itching, swelling at
the injection site, fever, nausea, and dizziness.
HOW IS GARDASIL GIVEN?
The vaccine is given by injection into the muscle of the upper arm
or upper thigh. Three doses are needed. Ideally, the first two doses
are given two months apart, and the third dose four months after the
second dose. The first two doses are given at least one month apart
with the third dose at least three months after the second dose. All
three doses should be given within a one-year period.
OTHER IMPORTANT POINTS
The length of vaccine protection is not known yet. To date, research
shows that it protects for at least 5 years. It is possible that a
booster may be needed at some point in the future, to maintain
protection. Long-term follow-up studies into this are ongoing.
Girls and women who have been vaccinated will still need regular
cervical cancer screening - this is because the vaccine does not
protect against all types of HPV. It also won't protect you from any
cancerous changes that may be caused by an HPV infection you may
already have.
This vaccine can be safely given at the same time as the hepatitis B
vaccine. If given at the same time, these vaccines should be given
into different limbs.
This vaccine can be safely given to women taking oral
contraceptives.
You should let your doctor know if you are taking any medicines, or
have recently had any other vaccines, or have recently been given
immunoglobulin or other blood products, before you are given this
vaccine.
IS THERE ANY
OTHER WAYS TO PREVENT HPV?
The only sure way to prevent HPV is to abstain from sexual activity.
Sexually active adults can reduce their risk by limiting their
number of sex partners and using condoms. Even people with only one
partner can get HPV if their partner has been exposed to a previous
partner with HPV.
This is why Gardasil represents such an important medical advance.
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