Why should you get the cervical cancer vaccine?

Starting from April 10, 2018, Shenzhen included human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines in medical insurance payments. After that, free human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination projects for women of appropriate age were launched in various parts of the country. At the end of December 2019, the first domestically produced bivalent HPV vaccine was approved and officially launched in May 2020. It is also the fourth HPV vaccine in the world. On March 24, 2022, the official website of the State Food and Drug Administration showed that Watson Bio's bivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was officially approved, becoming the second domestically produced bivalent HPV vaccine. In 2021, among the first batch of 15 pilot cities for the innovative model of the Healthy China Action selected by the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the Healthy China Action Promotion Office across the country, Jinan, Xiamen, Wuxi, Chengdu, Shenzhen and other places have successively launched HPV vaccination policies for women of appropriate age.

So, what is HPV vaccine and why should we promote HPV vaccination among women of appropriate age?

What is HPV

HPV (Human papillomavirus) is the full name of human papillomavirus. HPV is the culprit of many cancers. For example, 99.7% of the well-known cervical cancer is caused by long-term HPV infection. In addition, HPV may also cause anal cancer, vulvar cancer, vaginal cancer, penile cancer and oropharyngeal cancer. At present, there are more than 200 types of HPV detected, which are divided into high-risk and low-risk types according to their carcinogenic potential. High-risk types mainly include HPV16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 68, and low-risk types mainly include HPV6 and HPV11. Although most HPV infections are asymptomatic or do not cause disease and can disappear on their own, persistent infection with high-risk HPV viruses will eventually lead to the occurrence of cervical cancer. The source of infection of this disease is patients and virus-infected people. The main transmission routes of HPV are sexual contact, mother-to-child transmission and skin-to-mucosal contact transmission.

What is the HPV vaccine

The most effective way to prevent HPV infection is to get vaccinated with the HPV vaccine, which can resist HPV infection by inducing an effective humoral immune response, namely the production of neutralizing antibodies. Because it can effectively prevent cervical cancer caused by HPV, the HPV vaccine is also called the "cervical cancer vaccine."

HPV vaccination is a primary preventive measure to prevent cervical cancer. Currently, there are three types of HPV vaccines on the market in China, namely bivalent HPV vaccine, quadrivalent HPV vaccine, and nine-valent HPV vaccine.

Bivalent HPV vaccine Bivalent HPV vaccine covers two types, HPV16 and 18, which cause about 70% of cervical cancer. The target population is women aged 9 to 45 years old.

The quadrivalent HPV vaccine covers four types of HPV: HPV6, 11, 16, and 18. In addition to preventing about 70% of cervical cancer, it can also prevent 90% of genital warts and other benign lesions. The vaccine is also available to women aged 9 to 45.

The 9-valent HPV vaccine covers nine types of HPV: HPV6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58. Since it protects against more types, the 9-valent vaccine can prevent about 92% of cervical cancer, as well as some of the anal cancer, vulvar cancer, and vaginal cancer mentioned above. It can also prevent 90% of genital warts and benign lesions. The vaccine is available for women aged 16 to 26.

Vaccination and precautions

The preferred injection site is the deltoid muscle of the upper arm. Please note that this product should be avoided during pregnancy. If a woman is already or is preparing to become pregnant, it is recommended to postpone or interrupt the vaccination and then get vaccinated after the pregnancy period. Use with caution in breastfeeding women.

9 Questions Answered About HPV Vaccination

1. Is it still useful for women who already have sex/are married/have children to get the HPV vaccine?

It is useful. Having sexual life does not mean that you are infected with the HPV virus. The effect of vaccination is the same if you are not infected and have no sexual life.

2. After taking the quadrivalent vaccine, can I still get the nine-valent vaccine?

After receiving the quadrivalent HPV vaccine, it is not recommended to receive the nine-valent HPV vaccine.

3. Can women who are menstruating, breastfeeding, or pregnant receive the HPV vaccine?

Women who are menstruating can receive any HPV vaccine normally.

Breastfeeding women can be vaccinated normally. The World Health Organization believes that breastfeeding is not a contraindication to HPV vaccination. Based on existing evidence, the risk of vaccine-related adverse reactions for mothers and babies does not increase after breastfeeding women receive HPV vaccines, and they can breastfeed normally.

Pregnant women should avoid vaccination. Although no adverse reactions to HPV vaccination on mothers and offspring have been observed, data are limited and it is recommended that HPV vaccination should be avoided during pregnancy. If pregnancy is discovered after vaccination, there is no need to terminate the pregnancy, just interrupt vaccination and postpone subsequent doses until after delivery.

4. How long after receiving the vaccine can I have a child?

It is recommended to wait for more than half a year. In addition, this product should be avoided during pregnancy. If a woman is already or is about to become pregnant, it is recommended to postpone or interrupt the vaccination process and vaccinate after the pregnancy period. Breastfeeding women should be cautious when receiving this product.

5. Is it necessary to undergo HPV testing before receiving the HPV vaccine?

It is not necessary to be tested before vaccination, but if you suspect that you have been infected with HPV, you can voluntarily go to the hospital for testing. If cervical lesions are found, you can be vaccinated after recovery, because the HPV vaccine can only prevent HPV infection, not treat HPV infection.

6.Can men be vaccinated?

Some European countries also advocate vaccination for men, which can effectively prevent diseases such as genital warts, but the country has not yet approved the vaccination for men.

7. Do I need to undergo cervical cancer screening after receiving the HPV vaccine?

By all means.

Vaccine is only the first level of prevention and control, while cervical cancer screening is the second level of prevention and control. They cannot replace each other. It is recommended that married women over 30 years old undergo regular cervical cancer screening.

8. If you have been infected with HPV or have had cervical cancer, do you still need to be vaccinated after recovery?

After being cured, you can get vaccinated, and vaccination can reduce the recurrence rate of the disease. The vaccine can also prevent other HPV types that you have not been infected with.

The antibodies produced by natural infection are not sufficient to fight reinfection because natural infection is cellular immunity, while vaccine injection is humoral immunity, the latter of which produces higher antibody titers.

9. Where can I make an appointment for vaccination?

You can go to the local community health service center for consultation and appointment.

Choosing appropriate and age-appropriate vaccinations is an important way to protect yourself.