Pins and Needles: Separating Fact from Fiction on HPV Shots
The Importance of Preventing Cervical Cancer
Every year, in this month, we talk about cervical cancer and the necessity of preventing it. The first of these methods is to encourage receipt of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which is the main cause of this disease.
But it seems that the need to talk about this topic should not stop at one or two articles; Rather, it is necessary to address all the misconceptions or myths related to this disease, which, unfortunately, in our current era, still seem to occupy a lot of people’s minds.
Cervical Cancer: A Critical Health Problem
Cervical cancer, the fourth most common type of cancer among women worldwide, is a critical health problem that is often ignored. It represents about 7.5% of cancer deaths among women worldwide, which places a large burden on both low- and middle-income countries, which witness a proportion of these infections.
In Saudi Arabia, uterine cancer is the eighth most common type of cancer among women aged 15 to 44 years; While it is estimated that about 2.5% of women overall may be carriers of HPV-16/18 infection at any given time. In the United Arab Emirates, cervical cancer ranks fifth among the most common types of cancer among women and third among women between the ages of 15 and 44 years. Despite the great potential for prevention through vaccination and regular screening, cervical cancer still claims the lives of a large number of women, which highlights the urgent need to raise awareness on a large scale.
Misconceptions about the HPV Vaccine
• Vaccination against HPV is intended for women only
While cervical cancer primarily affects women, HPV is also associated with other types of cancer; Including throat cancer, which can affect individuals of both sexes.
Therefore, vaccinating both girls and boys with this vaccine helps limit the spread of human papillomavirus in general, and provides protection against the health risks associated with it. The World Health Organization recommends that children between the ages of 9 and 14 be vaccinated for maximum effectiveness before potential exposure to the virus.
• HPV vaccines are unsafe
Decades of research and millions of vaccinations worldwide have proven that the HPV vaccine is safe. The most common side effects of the vaccine are temporary, which include mild pain at the injection site or low-grade fever, so the benefits of the vaccine far outweigh these side effects.
However, regulatory bodies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization carefully monitor the safety of HPV vaccines to ensure community confidence.
• The importance of vaccination against HPV for everyone
While HPV is usually associated with transmission through intimate contact, it can also be spread by other means; Such as non-sexual skin-to-skin contact, sharing personal items, or infected surfaces, and in rare cases, it may be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her baby during childbirth.
These diverse transmission pathways underscore the importance of vaccination for all, as a preventive measure against HPV-related diseases.
• Regular screening eliminates the need for vaccination
Although Pap smears and HPV tests are still necessary to detect early signs of cervical abnormalities, they do not prevent HPV infection.
The HPV vaccine and regular screenings go hand in hand, as the vaccine prevents many types of HPV infections, while screenings ensure that any existing problems are detected early.
• The vaccine is not necessary if there is no family history of cancer
Unlike some cancers that have a strong hereditary factor, cervical cancer is caused primarily by HPV infection rather than a genetic predisposition. Therefore, HPV can be acquired through various means, which makes vaccination necessary for everyone, regardless of family history.
The Importance of Educating and Empowering Community Members
Public health awareness is key to dispelling myths and increasing uptake of the HPV vaccine. Getting the HPV vaccine represents an important opportunity to prevent cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases.
As a global institution committed to promoting healthcare education and awareness, St. George’s University encourages proactive measures such as vaccination and regular screening to significantly reduce the burden of HPV-related disease. By educating future healthcare leaders, the university seeks to make a lasting impact, empowering graduates to support awareness and prevention efforts around the world.
In turn, we encourage you, my dear, to engage in health education that guarantees your health and safety at all times. This education is possible by consulting specialist doctors, and browsing all specialized medical websites that provide you with reliable and well-sourced information (as we do in the health and fitness section on the “She” website, although we cannot be considered a medical website par excellence). Education reduces the myths and misconceptions that plague our lives, and makes us refrain from taking many preventive measures, such as taking the necessary vaccinations, for example, which may expose us to many diseases and health problems in the future.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is crucial to address the misconceptions surrounding the HPV vaccine and to educate community members about the importance of vaccination and regular screening. By doing so, we can reduce the burden of HPV-related disease and prevent the spread of cervical cancer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is the HPV vaccine only for women?
A: No, the HPV vaccine is recommended for both girls and boys to prevent transmission of the virus and reduce the risk of cervical cancer.
Q: Are HPV vaccines safe?
A: Yes, HPV vaccines have been proven safe through decades of research and millions of vaccinations worldwide.
Q: Do regular screenings eliminate the need for the HPV vaccine?
A: No, regular screenings are still necessary to detect early signs of cervical abnormalities, but the HPV vaccine prevents many types of HPV infections, while screenings ensure that any existing problems are detected early.