Dr. Unjali Malhotra's message for National Immunization Awareness Week!
Did you know that the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) impacts an estimated 75% of sexually active men and women? As we observe National Immunization Awareness week, I want to share some information around HPV and a vaccine that can prevent cancer.
One of the cancers this vaccine prevents is cervical cancer—and data from the FNHA and BC Cancer confirms that cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers for First Nations women and girls. Furthermore, cervical cancer incidence rates were observed to be significantly higher in First Nations women compared to non-First Nations women
For men, it is important to know about the risks of HPV as well.
HPV can cause the following cancers:
• Cervical, Vulvar, Vaginal
• Penile
• Mouth and Throat
• Anal
Exposure to HPV can also contribute to other diseases including genital warts.
There has been a lot of talk out there about HPV, but let's talk about what it really is…
HPV is Human Papilloma Virus. It is a virus that has many "subtypes" which means that it can lead to different results; the same virus is able to cause different disease outcomes.
Almost everyone will come in contact with HPV at some point in their lifetimes. HPV is an easily transmitted sexually transmitted infection (STI) making it the most common STI in North America.
Once you have HPV, there are a few things that can happen:
• Nothing
• Pre cancer
• Cancer
The good news: there is a vaccine that can prevent many of the cancers caused by HPV (Gardasil). This vaccine protects against:
• Cervical pre cancer and cancer
• Anal pre cancer and cancer
• Vulvar cancer
• Vaginal cancer
• Genital warts
Let's talk about the vaccine—what you need to know
As a mother and doctor, there are things I want to know for my family and my community when it comes to the HPV vaccine:
Does it work?
✔ The HPV vaccine offers 96% to 97% protection for cervical, vulvar and vaginal disease.
✔ The HPV vaccine was approved by Health Canada in 2006 to fight against HPV, which can cause cervical, vulva, vaginal, rectal, penile, and head and neck cancers.
✔ The HPV vaccine Gardasil 9 is publicly funded in schools. It is called Gardasil 9 because it guards against the nine types of HPV that cause approximately 70%- 80% of cervical and anal cancer cases.
Is it safe?
✔ Over 217 million doses of the vaccine have been given worldwide with no global safety concerns, and Health Canada continues to monitor the safety of the vaccine long term.
✔ Minor side effects from the vaccine include: pain, redness and swelling at the injection site; headache; and fever. These are normal responses by the body's immune system.
✔ Serious side effects are very rare, and have not been clearly shown to be linked to the HPV vaccine.
Am I the right candidate for the HPV vaccine as an adult? Should I really get my child vaccinated at school at a young age?
✔ The vaccine is important to get even if you have had an abnormal Pap test result or already have genital warts. And for women, there is no upper age limit to get Gardasil, according to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (Canada).
✔ Gardasil 9 covers cervical cancer, genital warts, and anal, vulvar and vaginal cancers. The HPV vaccine is offered in schools to both girls and boys to attempt to ensure vaccination occurs BEFORE exposure , but it is also available through community health nurses to women and girls (ages 9-45) and boys/men (ages 9-26).
I hope this offers some clarity in making a decision that is right for you and your loved ones. Please talk to your local health care provider, friends and take a look at:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/9-valent-hpv-vaccine-clarification-minimum-intervals-between-doses-in-hpv-immunization-schedule.html
Cancer in First Nations people living in British Columbia, Canada: an analysis of incidence and survival from 1993 to 2010
View at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10552-017-0950-7
Marion's Story – FNHA's Cervical Cancer Screening Video and materials
View at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD6sW3ATW8I
Download Posters here: http://www.fnha.ca/WellnessSite/WellnessDocuments/FNHA-BC-Cancer-Cervical-Cancer-Screening-Poster.pdf
BC Cancer - Screening: http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/screening/cervix
References:
[1] What is HPV ? The Center for Disease Control and Prevention Viewed on October 19.2017 https://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv.htm
[1] Does HPV Cause Cancer? The Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Viewed on October 19, 2017 https://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv.htm
[1] Joura E at al: N Engl J Med 2015;372:711-23
[1] Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Prevention and HPV Vaccines: Questions and Answers Government of Canada Accessed on October 19, 2017 https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/infectious-diseases/sexual-health-sexually-transmitted-infections/hpv-prevention-vaccines-questions-answers.html
[1] Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Prevention and HPV Vaccines: Questions and Answers Government of Canada Accessed on October 19, 2017 https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/infectious-diseases/sexual-health-sexually-transmitted-infections/hpv-prevention-vaccines-questions-answers.html
[1] Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Prevention and HPV Vaccines: Questions and Answers Government of Canada Accessed on October 19, 2017 https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/infectious-diseases/sexual-health-sexually-transmitted-infections/hpv-prevention-vaccines-questions-answers.html
[1] Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine British Columbia Center for Disease Control Access on October 19, 2017 http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/immunization-vaccines/vaccines-in-bc/human-papillomavirus-(hpv)-vaccine
[1] Information Update - Gardasil Vaccine Safety studies show no new risks Government of Canada Accessed on Oct 19.2017 http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2015/56240a-eng.php
[1] Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine British Columbia Center for Disease Control Access on October 19, 2017 http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/immunization-vaccines/vaccines-in-bc/human-papillomavirus-(hpv)-vaccine
[1] Information Update - Gardasil Vaccine Safety studies show no new risks Government of Canada Accessed on Oct 19.2017 http://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2015/56240a-eng.php
[1] HPV vaccine information for Young Women. Center for Disease Control and Prevention Accessed on October 19.2017 https://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv-vaccine-young-women.htm
[1]Kang WD et al. Is vaccination with quadrivalent HPV vaccine after loop electrosurgical excision procedure effective in preventing recurrence in patients with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2-3)? Gynecol Oncol. 2013 Aug;130(2):264-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2013.04.050. Epub 2013 Apr 26.
[1] Dion GR Adjuvant Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Secondary Prevention: A Systematic Review. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017 Jun 1;143(6):614-622. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2016.4736.
