What You know about HPV Vaccines ?

Concern Over HPV Vaccines

There are many areas of concern over the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine which is said to prevent infection against certain species of papillomavirus associated with cervical cancer, genital warts and some less common cancers.

Many countries are going slow on this vaccine because of many doubts raised. However, Malaysia is rushing into it. HPV vaccines, givens in a series of three shots, are to make the body's immune system produce antibodies against HPV type 16 and 18, which cause seven out of 10 cases of cervical cancer. The antibodies supposedly protect one from getting infected with HPV.

And yet the authority are not giving the people any details. Even the type of vaccine used seem to be top secret. Two HPV vaccines are in the market: Gardisil and Cervarix. Which one is Malaysia using? And experts tell us that the regular Paps smear screening must be continued to be done even after vaccination because the vaccine only covers some high-risk types of HPV.

The WHO warned last year that those vaccinated and do not continue with screening, such as Pap smear because they wrongly believe they are protected against cervical cancer, can raise the death figures, especially with the vaccine protection waning over time.

Some concerns have been raised by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• As of Sep 1, 2009, there were 15 037 Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) cases of adverse events following Gardisil vaccination in the US. Of these reports, 93% were reports of non-serious events, and 7% were reports of serious events.
• Non serious adverse events include fainting, pain and swelling at the injection site, headache, nausea and fever.
• VAERS defines serious adverse events as those that involve hospitalisation, permanent disability, life-threatening illnesses and death.
• As of Sept 1, 2009, there have been 44 reports of death among females in the US who received the vaccine.

Some believe that inoculating schoolgirls with the vaccine is a symptomatic and simplistic solution to the problem of cervical cancer in childern who may contract cervical cancer due to early sexual activity when instead, the root cause for contracting HPV - sexual relations with multiple partners; should be countered by education.

by
SMMI
CAP