HPV Vaccine

Vaccines

What is the HPV vaccine?
The HPV vaccine is a safe vaccine which provides protection against cancers caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The HPV vaccine helps protect you from getting cancers such as:

  • Cervical cancer.
  • Some mouth and throat cancers.
  • Some cancers of the anus and genital areas.



What is HPV?
Human Papilloma Virus is the most common viral infection affecting the reproductive system. There are more than 100 types of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

Most of them are asymptomatic but some may cause severe diseases, such as cancer. A person is most likely to get infected by HPV soon after becoming sexually active.

Which types of HPV does the vaccine protect against?
The current vaccine (Gardasil 9 ®) protects against 9 types of HPV. These are:

  • 6, 11: These cause genital warts.
  • 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58: These cause genital cancers such as cervical and anal cancers.


Who should be vaccinated?
Young people, before becoming sexually active. The HPV vaccine helps to protect both males and females from HPV-related cancers. Females (12-year olds) born after the year 2000, can be vaccinated under the immunisation programme. Males (12 and 13-year olds) born in the year 2011, will be receiving an invitation letter with an appointment to get vaccinated against HPV.

To give you the best protection, the vaccine should be given before you become sexually active. However, if you are sexually active you should still be given the vaccine. If you are in a steady relationship, it is still recommended to get vaccinated because it may be that your partner may have had previous sexual partners.

Cervical cancer is not a disease which is inherited, meaning it is not a genetic disease.

Even if no one in your family had cervical cancer, you are still at risk of getting infected with HPV, hence you still need to get vaccinated.

If you were previously infected with HPV and have recovered, you may still get infected with a different type of HPV.

Recommended schedule of HPV vaccination
The vaccine is given in your arm and you will need to be between 9 and 14 years of age; two doses, which are 6-12 months apart.

What if I have not had my first HPV vaccine by the age of 15 years?
If you are taking the vaccine on or after your 15th birthday you will need three doses. The first two doses will be given 1 month apart and the third dose is given around 5 months after the second dose. If you haven’t taken the vaccine yet, speak to your doctor or the Immunisation Unit.

What if I missed my vaccination? Can I still have it?
Of course! If you missed it, you can still have it, ideally before your 25th birthday.

The HPV vaccine is part of the National Immunisation Schedule Programme. If you require further information you can contact the Primary Health on 21231231 or send an email on immunisation@gov.mt.

Is the HPV vaccine safe?
The vaccine is safe. It consists of the HPV virus, which is not active. The vaccine cannot cause the disease.

The vaccine can be safely given in combination with other vaccines and there is no need to leave a time interval between vaccines.

How effective is the HPV vaccine?
The vaccine offers almost 100% protection against the 9 types of HPV present in the vaccine.

What are the benefits of HPV vaccination?
HPV vaccination prevents cancer-causing infections and pre-cancers including ano-genital warts.

HPV infections and cervical pre-cancers (abnormal cells on the cervix that can lead to cancer) have dropped significantly since the vaccine has been in use.

Does the vaccine cause any side-effects?

  • Most common: headache, and at injection site one may develop pain, swelling, redness, itching, bruising and bleeding.
  • Less common: fever, sore throat, nausea, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, tiredness and dizziness.


Is there anyone who cannot get vaccinated?
People who are hypersensitive, or who have experienced a severe allergic reaction, to yeast or an allergic reaction to previous Gardasil 9 ® vaccination.

If you are pregnant, and you have not yet been vaccinated, wait for after the pregnancy. If you received any vaccination while you are were not aware about the pregnancy, discuss with your gynaecologist.

The HPV vaccine does not:

  • Protect against all cases of cervical cancer or replace the need for regular cervical screening.
  • Treat existing cervical cancer.
  • Treat an HPV infection that is already present.
  • Protect against illnesses or conditions, including cancers, that are caused by types of HPV which are not included in the HPV vaccine.

For more information about HPV, alternatively contact the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Directorate on 23266000 or message us on Sexual Health Malta Messenger.

For complete information on the vaccine you can visit: https://deputyprimeminister.gov.mt/en/phc/pchyhi/Pages/Vaccines.aspx

Reference List:

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.261.pdf

https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/index.html

http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/356844/QA_HPV_Young-people_EN.pdf?ua=1