Chosen topic: Vaccination
Question: Should the HPV vaccine be compulsory for girls ages 11-20.
What is HPV? The human papillomavirus or HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world and the leading cause of cervical cancer. The virus is spread via skin to skin contact and so is developed by 4 out of 5 people in NZ . There are over 100 types of HPV of which they are split into high risk and low risk. High risk types are those that are associated with the development of cancerous tissues such as types 16 and 18. Low risk types are those that are associated with infections such as genital warts. Most HPV types are cleared by a healthy immune system within 2 years however those that aren’t can cause abnormal cells to arise …show more content…
Gardasil provides 100% protection for HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 and Cervarix only 16 and 18. The vaccines are 100% safe and effective up to 8 years. (Predictions show it’s likely to provide longer protection however vaccines only started 8 years ago.) Gardasil also provides “some” resistance to types 31, 33, 52, 56, 58 and 59 which cause 12% of cervical cancer. It is also the vaccine in the NZ immunisation schedule and is free for females up to 20 years old. It is shown to promote a greater response from the immune system in girls age 9-16 than 17-25 hence why it is in the schedule for girls in year 8 at school. It targets the types above because 6 and 11 are the cause of 90% of genital warts and types 16 and 18 the cause of 70% of cervical cancers. The vaccine is supported by the ministry of health, the world health organisation and the royal Australia and NZ College of obstetricians and gynaecologists. 5 The most common side effects of the vaccine are, pain, itchiness or tenderness at the injection site, a headache, redness or swelling at the injection site, fever, nausea and vomiting and pain in the extremities. These are usually mild and don’t last for more than a few days. Other less common reactions are, fainting, swollen glands in neck armpit groin, joint pain, aching muscles, tired/weakness, chills, easy bleeding/bruising and skin infection. Very rarely it can cause …show more content…
Once again this is covered above in “how does the HPV vaccine work?” One of the biggest biological implications associated with other vaccines is whether a virus with a different genome will replace that which is vaccinated against. This is very common in influenza where new flu vaccines are needed each year to combat the new flu. The chances of a different genome replacing HPV types 16 and 18 as the leading cause of cervical cancer is considered very unlikely. This is beneficial as vaccinating for any virus without the intention of eradicating it runs the risk that it mutates and forms a super virus which spreads and is unaffected by the vaccine. The most significant implication of the HPV vaccine by far is the effect on the body’s immune system. This is the whole idea of the vaccination to trigger antibodies that are equipped to respond to HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 and so by doing that effectively the vaccine works effectively and so pending on results for longevity we can assume that the vaccine will most likely be effective at reducing cervical cancer rates in NZ. I considered the other two biological implications less significant. In the case of the side effects none of
Question: Should the HPV vaccine be compulsory for girls ages 11-20.
What is HPV? The human papillomavirus or HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world and the leading cause of cervical cancer. The virus is spread via skin to skin contact and so is developed by 4 out of 5 people in NZ . There are over 100 types of HPV of which they are split into high risk and low risk. High risk types are those that are associated with the development of cancerous tissues such as types 16 and 18. Low risk types are those that are associated with infections such as genital warts. Most HPV types are cleared by a healthy immune system within 2 years however those that aren’t can cause abnormal cells to arise …show more content…
Gardasil provides 100% protection for HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 and Cervarix only 16 and 18. The vaccines are 100% safe and effective up to 8 years. (Predictions show it’s likely to provide longer protection however vaccines only started 8 years ago.) Gardasil also provides “some” resistance to types 31, 33, 52, 56, 58 and 59 which cause 12% of cervical cancer. It is also the vaccine in the NZ immunisation schedule and is free for females up to 20 years old. It is shown to promote a greater response from the immune system in girls age 9-16 than 17-25 hence why it is in the schedule for girls in year 8 at school. It targets the types above because 6 and 11 are the cause of 90% of genital warts and types 16 and 18 the cause of 70% of cervical cancers. The vaccine is supported by the ministry of health, the world health organisation and the royal Australia and NZ College of obstetricians and gynaecologists. 5 The most common side effects of the vaccine are, pain, itchiness or tenderness at the injection site, a headache, redness or swelling at the injection site, fever, nausea and vomiting and pain in the extremities. These are usually mild and don’t last for more than a few days. Other less common reactions are, fainting, swollen glands in neck armpit groin, joint pain, aching muscles, tired/weakness, chills, easy bleeding/bruising and skin infection. Very rarely it can cause …show more content…
Once again this is covered above in “how does the HPV vaccine work?” One of the biggest biological implications associated with other vaccines is whether a virus with a different genome will replace that which is vaccinated against. This is very common in influenza where new flu vaccines are needed each year to combat the new flu. The chances of a different genome replacing HPV types 16 and 18 as the leading cause of cervical cancer is considered very unlikely. This is beneficial as vaccinating for any virus without the intention of eradicating it runs the risk that it mutates and forms a super virus which spreads and is unaffected by the vaccine. The most significant implication of the HPV vaccine by far is the effect on the body’s immune system. This is the whole idea of the vaccination to trigger antibodies that are equipped to respond to HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 and so by doing that effectively the vaccine works effectively and so pending on results for longevity we can assume that the vaccine will most likely be effective at reducing cervical cancer rates in NZ. I considered the other two biological implications less significant. In the case of the side effects none of