Cervical cancer vaccination help women against the virus that causes almost all cervical cancers with the development of genital warts, cervical cancer, and some minor common cancers.
In the United States, cervical cancer affects about 11,000 women each year. Cervical cancer vaccination can prevent the costs and the fear related to cervical cancer, and off course it can save many lives.
Two cervical cancer vaccines have FDA approval in the U.S. are Cervarix and Gardasil. Both vaccines can avoid most cases of cervical cancer if given before a woman or girl is exposed to the virus.
Cervarix and Gardasil protect against the two HPV types (HPV-16 and HPV-18) that cause 70% of cervical cancers; Gardasil also protects against the two HPV types (HPV-6 and HPV-11) that cause 90% of genital warts.
Who should get cervical cancer vaccination?
The cervical cancer vaccine is recommended for girls ages 11 to 12, although it may be given to girls as young as age 9. To help prevent genital warts, Gardasil vaccine also can be given to boys between ages 9 and 26.
Cervarix and Gardasil are given as a series of three injections over a six-month period. The second dose is injected one to two months after the first dose, and the third injection is given six months after the first shot.
Cervical cancer vaccination side effects
The effects of this vaccination are usually modest. The common side effects of both HPV vaccines include headaches, low-grade fever or flu-like symptoms and soreness at the injection site.
In some case, especially in adolescents, fainting occurs after the injection. In addition, Cervarix may also cause vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, or abdominal pain.
Advance side effects of cervical cancer vaccination are including a severe allergic response and neurological conditions, such as paralysis, weakness and brain swelling have been noted in a small number of case.
