INTRODUCTION
Immunization is a true miracle of science. Immunization is achieved by giving vaccines. The vaccine stimulates the body’s immune system and makes it ready to fight the infecting organism that the vaccine targets
Billions of people have been saved from disease and from death from a wide range of infections since the advent of vaccinations. The list of infections that are preventable by vaccines is large, and continues to grow. The latest infection to get disrupted by vaccines is Covid-19. Infection, severity of disease and death from the Covid-19 virus have been drastically reduced by the various Covid-19 vaccines.
This is truly science at its very best.
If only we had vaccines against cancers, would that not be great!!!!
Hang about! We do have a vaccine against at least one cancer, and that vaccine is extremely, extremely effective. In all those who get the vaccine, the chances of getting this cancer is now zero percent!
What am I talking about? Cervical cancer.
The world over, cancer of the cervix is responsible for many hundreds of thousands of deaths every year. About 80 percent of these deaths occur in developing countries. In Zambia, cervical cancer is the most common cancer affecting women, and the country has one of the highest incidences of this cancer in the world.
It is now proven that the vast majority of cases of cervical cancer are caused by exposure to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). This virus is transmitted through oral, anal, or vaginal sexual contact.
There are several strains of the HPV. Apart from cervical cancer, this virus can cause genital warts in both men and women. It is now known that some anal, mouth, throat, head, and neck cancers are caused by HPV.
The HPV vaccine can prevent most of these diseases.
In theory, vaccinating boys against the types of HPV associated with cervical cancer might also help protect girls from the virus by possibly decreasing transmission.
A study done in the UK and published in the Lancet shows that: “The HPV immunization program has successfully almost eliminated cervical cancer in women born since Sept. 1, 1995.”
If this is not an Oscar winning performance by a vaccine, then what is?
Therefore, the best way of preventing cervical cancer, and all the other diseases caused by HPV is to prevent infection. Prevention is the question, and vaccination is the answer.
BASICS
The HPV vaccine has been available since 2008. It was initially given to girls who were not likely to have been exposed to sexual contact. This was to close the barn door before the horse has bolted. But since this is an STI, and was transmitted mostly from the opposite sex, the vaccine is now also offered to boys.
In most countries 11 and 12-year-olds receive two doses of HPV vaccine at least six months apart. Teens and young adults who begin the vaccine series later, at ages 15 through 26, receive three doses of the vaccine.
In some countries males and females aged 9 to 45 years can get the vaccine.
The HPV vaccine isn’t recommended for pregnant women or people who are moderately or severely ill.
The vaccine is most protective in those who have never been sexually active. However, there are benefits for those who are already sexually active but have not been vaccinated. This is because there are many strains of the virus and even those who already have one strain of HPV, can still benefit from the vaccine because it can protect from other strains that they don’t yet have.
IN ZAMBIA
In Zambia, the HPV vaccine was introduced in 2013. It is given to school girls in grade 4. Girls aged 10 years who are out of school can access the vaccines from health centres and through community based strategies.
