In Scotland, all girls in their
second year of secondary school (S2) are routinely invited to receive
the HPV vaccine at 12 to 13 years of age. The vaccine is designed to
protect against the two types of HPV that can cause 70% of the cases
of cervical cancer. It does not protect against all other types, so
regular cervical screening is important. HPV is very common and you
catch it through intimate sexual contact with another person who
already has it. Because it is so common, most people will get infected
at some point in their lifetime. In most women the virus does not cause
cervical cancer, but having the vaccine is important because we do not
know who is at risk.
As a Cervical Cancer survivor/fundraiser and volunteer for
Jo's Trust and Mum of 2 girls Jordan & Aaron she was lucky to be
part of the immunisations at St Mathew's Academy and her youngest
daughter will be due to have the vaccine soon.
The vaccine, Cervarix is a vaccine intended to protect females against the
diseases caused by infection with Human Papillomaviruses (HPV).
These diseases include:
- cervical cancer (cancer of the cervix i.e. lower part of the
uterus or womb),
- precancerous cervical lesions (changes in cells of the cervix that
have a risk of turning into cancer).
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types contained in the vaccine
(HPV types 16 and 18) are responsible for approximately 70%
of cervical cancer cases. Other HPV types can also cause cervical
cancer. Cervarix does not protect against all HPV types.
When a female is vaccinated with Cervarix, the immune system (the
body’s natural defence system) will make antibodies against HPV
types 16 and 18. In clinical trials Cervarix has been shown to prevent
HPV related diseases in women 15-25 years of age. Cervarix also
stimulates production of antibodies in females
9-14 years of age.
Cervarix is not infectious and so, it cannot cause HPV related diseases.
Suzanne would like to urge all young women who as yet have not received the immunisation to please contact their doctor.