Cervical Cancer Awareness Week begins on January 18. The Center's Pharmacovigilance Department reminds about the risks of HPV infections that can lead to cancer and how to protect yourself from them.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Among women, the overall prevalence of HPV is 26,8%, with the highest prevalence in the population aged 20–24 years. HPV is the cause of about 90% of cervical cancers, 70% of oropharyngeal cancers, and other pelvic organ neoplasms.
Given the danger that HPV poses to the human body and its high prevalence in the population, at present the only way to prevent HPV infections is vaccination. The vaccine works by ensuring the production of specific protective antibodies before the virus enters the human body, that is, it forms immune memory.
The HPV vaccine, like any other preventive vaccine, should preferably be administered before exposure to the virus. Therefore, it is recommended to start vaccination before the onset of sexual activity. HPV vaccination is recommended before the age of 26. It is most effective to administer the vaccine at the age of 12-15 years and 20-23. The standard vaccination course involves three doses.
Based on global pharmacovigilance data, it has been proven that HPV immunization is safe. Before being approved for use, all vaccines underwent clinical studies of their safety and efficacy. In addition, they remain under constant safety monitoring through pharmacovigilance. To date, there has not been a single case of death resulting from HPV vaccination.
HPV vaccination is carried out in 84 countries around the world, for example, in the USA, Canada, and most EU countries. About 80 million people worldwide have already been vaccinated against the papillomavirus. In countries with mass HPV vaccination, it has been possible within a few years to reduce the incidence of genital warts, precancerous diseases of the cervix, and cervical cancer.
Currently, two vaccines for HPV prevention are registered in Ukraine: “Cervarix” and “Gardasil-4”. According to information received by the State Expert Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine over the last 5 years, 13 351 doses of HPV vaccines have been administered in Ukraine. All recorded reactions were non-serious and expected, i.e., their nature or severity is consistent with the available information about the medicinal product in the instructions for medical use of the registered vaccine/summary of product characteristics of the vaccine.
HPV vaccination is not mandatory in Ukraine but is recommended. You can get it of your own free will and protect yourself from a serious disease.
The emergence of vaccines for the prevention of HPV is a big and powerful step in preventing cancer. Stay healthy!
