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Gardasil - Vaccine against Cervical Cancer |
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Gardasil is now available at Richmond Practice. It is the first vaccine
that protects against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and cervical cancer
in women. Here below more information about:
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Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
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What Gardasil does
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Who should get vaccinated?
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Important other information about Gardasil
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Will you miss-out on the government’s initiative to be vaccinated?
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Cost
What is Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)?
HPV is a common virus that is contracted through sexual intercourse.
There are more than 100 types of HPV and they infect the genital
area. Some of them are the main cause of cervical cancer. They can also
cause pre-cancerous lesions and genital warts.
What Gardasil does
Gardasil is a vaccine that protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18.
Types 16 and 18 cause 70% of cervical cancers and types 6 and 11 cause
90% of genital warts. Gardasil may not provide protection against all
types of HPV to which a woman has already been exposed, but most people
are not infected by all HPV types against which Gardasil protects.
Who should get vaccinated?
Gardasil is for girls and young women between the ages of 9 to
26. It works when given before you have any contact with HPV Types 6,
11, 16, and 18.
If you've already been infected with HPV, you may still benefit from
Gardasil, as it is unlikely to be infected with all 4 types of the
virus covered by the vaccine.
Females who are sexually active may also benefit as they might not have
acquired the types of HPV for which Gardasil offers protection.
Important other information about Gardasil
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Gardasil may not fully protect everyone, so it is important to continue regular cervical cancer screenings
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Gardasil is not recommended for women who are pregnant
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Gardasil will not treat cervical cancer and genital warts and will not protect against diseases caused by other HPV types
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Gardasil is given as 3 injections over 6 months
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Gardasil is not yet licensed for men
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The length of vaccine protection is not known yet. To date research
shows that it protects for at least 5 years. It is possible that a
booster may be needed at some point in the future to maintain
protection
Will you miss out on the government’s initiative to vaccinate against cervical cancer?
The government announced last year that Gardasil will be available on
the NHS for girls aged 12 and 13 from September 2008. There will also
be a catch-up campaign for girls up to age 18 from autumn 2009.
This means that girls currently age 17 and over will miss-out on the
vaccine all together and girls age 14 to 17 are at risk of contracting
HPV, before the catch-up campaign is implemented.
Cost
Three injections for £140 each, with no additional consultation charge.
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