Proactive HPV vaccination: Early cancer prevention shield for children

Nguyen Minh Phuong (17 years old) came to get the first HPV vaccine injection at the CDC Quang Ninh 's Service Vaccination Room.

HPV is a virus that causes papilloma in humans and is transmitted mainly through sexual contact. Although very common, this virus operates silently, many cases of HPV infection do not show any signs. It is this "silence" that makes it difficult for patients to detect and unintentionally becomes a source of spread in the community. Doctor CKII Tran Thi Diep, Deputy Head of the Department of Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (CDC Quang Ninh) said: There are currently more than 40 strains of HPV that can cause diseases in the genitals and anus. Of which, 15 strains of HPV are high-risk, especially strains 16 and 18 that can cause cancer from cervical cancer to anus and other genitals. The disease has no symptoms and is difficult to detect. Therefore, children and adolescents are at risk of contracting it without detecting it.

Early HPV vaccination is considered the "key" to proactively preventing the danger from this virus. The two commonly used vaccines in Vietnam and the world are Gardasil quadrivalent and Gardasil 9, which are highly effective in protection. The Gardasil quadrivalent HPV vaccine is indicated for girls and women (9-26 years old). The Gardasil 9 vaccine is indicated for both men and women aged 9-45, regardless of whether they have had sex, are married, or have reached puberty or not. The injections for men and women are the same. The ideal age for HPV vaccination is 9-14 years old, because the younger the age, the lower the risk of HPV infection compared to older ages, so children will receive a full immune response because the higher the types in the vaccine, the more antibodies are produced.

Deputy Head of the Department of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (CDC Quang Ninh) Tran Thi Diep said: In Quang Ninh, HPV vaccination is carried out at service vaccination points. The whole province has more than 40 facilities providing Gardasil 9 vaccination services, this is a vaccine with a broad spectrum of protection and is currently recommended for widespread use.

Ms. Tran Thi Van (Ha Long Ward) brought her daughter Nguyen Minh Phuong (17 years old) to get the first HPV vaccine injection at the CDC Quang Ninh's Service Vaccination Room, sharing: I started to be interested in HPV vaccination after reading a lot of information in newspapers, television and social networks about the effects of cervical cancer prevention. I think HPV vaccination is necessary to protect my daughter's reproductive health in the future. After receiving detailed advice from the doctor, I felt more secure and decided to register my child for vaccination during this summer vacation.

One of the barriers that makes many parents hesitate to vaccinate their children with HPV is the concern about side effects. However, medical experts confirm that the quadrivalent Gardasil and Gardasil 9 vaccines have been tested for safety by the World Health Organization (WHO) and many countries. Since their introduction, millions of people around the world have been vaccinated without any serious complications. Side effects, if any, are usually very mild, such as pain at the injection site, mild fever, fatigue, similar to those of other vaccines.

HPV vaccination is an important step in the community cancer prevention strategy. In the context of the increasing rate of cervical cancer and HPV-related diseases, it is a right and necessary decision for parents to proactively vaccinate their children early. Do not let ignorance or vague fear hinder the opportunity to protect the long-term health of future generations.

Hoai Minh

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/chu-dong-tiem-hpv-la-chan-som-phong-ung-thu-cho-tre-3365825.html