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HSA invites more women for HPV vaccine
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| Published on Friday, December 18, 2009 |
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| Dr Kiran Kumar |
Dr Sook Yin |
By Mwangi Ngamate
Approximately 100 young women have been vaccinated against the Human Papillamavirus, the causative agent of most cervical cancers.
The Medical Officer of Health and the Director of Public Health, Dr Kiran Kumar, on Wednesday, 16 December noted that the campaign had gone well, with about 50 more women remaining to take up the first project undertaken by the government and the Cayman Islands Cancer Society.
The Medical Director of the Cancer Society, Sook Yin, said that they have budgeted for up to 160 volunteers to take up the potentially lifesaving HPV vaccine.
In a press statement by the Health Services Authority (HSA), there has been appeal for more young women to come forward and take up the vaccine.
“The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer, is still available, at no charge to young women between the ages of 11 and 17 years, as part of the pilot project undertaken by the Ministry of Health and the Cayman Islands Cancer Society in August this year,” read the statement.
Dr Kumar noted that the vaccine is given at the Public Health Clinic at the Cayman Islands Hospital every Wednesday from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Dr Yin noted that staff from her society are always there during the administration of the vaccine to answer any questions that the parents and young women may have concerning the vaccine.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Society, Christine Sanders, speaking earlier to Cayman Net News noted that she spent most of the Wednesday afternoons in the Cayman Islands hospital working with the patients and medical staff.
According to literature released by the HSA, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus that is passed on through the genital contact, most often during sex. More than 50% of sexually active people will get HPV at some time in their lives, though most will never even know it. It is most common in people in their late teens and early 20s.
There are about 40 types of HPV that can infect the genital areas of men and women. Most HPV types cause no symptoms and go away on their own. But some types can cause cervical cancer (cancer of the lower end of the uterus also known as womb) in women. Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women around the world.
HPV is also associated with several less common genital cancers— like cancers of the anus, vagina, and vulva (area around the opening of the vagina).
The HPV vaccine (injection/shot) is given to girls and women 9 through 26 years of age to help protect against diseases caused by HPV such as cervical cancer, other genital cancers and genital warts. The vaccine protects against four types (6, 11, 16, and 18) of HPV.
The vaccine cannot protect against other types of HPV and it does not treat HPV infection.
Dr Kumar, in an earlier interview with Cayman Net News, said that the vaccine has been widely tested in girls/women 9 through 26 years of age. According to the statement by HSA, new research is being done on the vaccine’s safety and efficacy in women older than 26 years of age. When there is enough research to show that it is safe and effective for older women, it will be offered.
The vaccine is given in three shots over a six month period. The first dose on the selected date; the second dose two months after first; and the third dose six months after first dose.
“It is not yet known how much protection girls/women would get from receiving only one or two doses of the vaccine. For this reason, it is very important that girls/women get all three doses of the vaccine,” read the statement.
Almost a year ago the cancer society organised a fundraiser dubbed” Breakfast at Tiffany’s” – from the eponymous 1958 Truman Capote novel and the 1961 Blake Edwards film starring Audrey Hepburn. The Fundraiser was able to inject $20,000, which combined with other resources from the government have made the project successful.
Contact the Public Health Clinic at 244-2648 to make appointments for the vaccine. Minors must be accompanied by their parents or guardian to get the HPV vaccine. | | | | Reads : 1113 |
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