HPV stands for human papillomavirus. HPV vaccination can help women prevent cervical cancer. Because HPV infection can lead to cervical cancer and there's no effective treatment, cervical cancer prevention and control is crucial. HPV vaccine research primarily targets high-risk HPV types, including both preventive and therapeutic vaccines.
HPV and Cervical Cancer
HPV vaccines, scientifically known as human papillomavirus vaccines, are effective in preventing cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is one of the most common malignancies in women and the third most common cancer among women aged 15 to 44.
There are over 200 HPV subtypes, but only a few are considered high-risk and can cause cancer. Other types are considered low-risk and are considered non-cancer-causing.
- High-risk HPV can cause cervical, vaginal, and perineal cancers.
- Low-risk HPV is non-cancer-causing but can cause growth.
Typically, 80% to 90% of women will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives, and most will clear up on their own. However, persistent infection with high-risk HPV types may cause precancerous lesions, which, if left untreated, can progress to cervical cancer.
Among high-risk HPV types, types 16 and 18 are the most wanted, accounting for 70% of HPV-related cervical cancers. The free bivalent HPV vaccine is designed to protect against these two types of HPV.
HPV vaccine categories:
- Preventive vaccines: Preventive vaccines primarily protect against HPV infection by inducing an effective humoral immune response, namely the production of neutralizing antibodies.
- Therapeutic vaccines: Therapeutic vaccines primarily stimulate a cellular immune response to eliminate virally infected or mutated cells.
Vaccination precautions:
- Not suitable for individuals with a history of severe allergic reactions to other vaccines or pregnant women. Vaccination should be postponed for those with acute illnesses.
- Although the HPV vaccine itself does not increase the risk of syncope after vaccination, post-marketing survey reports show that adolescent girls have a relatively high chance of syncope after receiving the vaccine. Therefore, it is recommended to observe for 15 minutes after the vaccine is injected.