The cervical vaccine works by making girls immune to strains of a STD (Socially Transmitted Disease). Girls aged between 12 and 13 are being vaccinated against the virus that causes cervical cancer. Girls from 13 to 18 should also get the vaccination even if they have been sexually active. Two vaccines have been developed - Gardasil and Cervarix. Both target a sexually transmitted disease, human papilloma virus (HPV) which is thought to be behind 99% of cervical cancer cases. The vaccines are most effective when administered to girls before they become sexually active - so before they potentially come into contact with HPV. They are said to be 100% effective in protecting against certain strains of the virus - which frequently does not produce any noticeable symptoms.
How does HPV cause cancer?
There are over 100 types of HPV but only 13 of them are known to cause cancer. The others are harmless or cause genital warts. Most HPV infections clear up by themselves, but in some people the infection can last a long time. HPV infects the cells of the surface of the cervix (the neck of the womb) where it can stay for many years without you knowing. The HPV virus can damage these cells leading to changes in their appearance. Over time, these changes can develop into cervical cancer.
There are over 100 types of HPV but only 13 of them are known to cause cancer. The others are harmless or cause genital warts. Most HPV infections clear up by themselves, but in some people the infection can last a long time. HPV infects the cells of the surface of the cervix (the neck of the womb) where it can stay for many years without you knowing. The HPV virus can damage these cells leading to changes in their appearance. Over time, these changes can develop into cervical cancer.
The vaccine is given in three injections over six months. How many lives will it save and when will we see the benefits? The vaccine could prevent 70% of the deaths that cervical cancer claims annually. But it will take a while for this to manifest itself. Cervical cancer is thought of as a younger person's disease, but it often strikes women in middle age and later. So it could be decades before the cervical cancer rates start to decline dramatically.
SCHOOL GIRL DIES AFTER CANCER JAB
A 14-year-old girl has died after being given a cervical cancer vaccination as part of a national immunization programme in England, but the exact cause of death is unknown. The pupil was taken ill at Blue Coat Cof E School in Coventry shortly after she received the Cervarix vaccine. She died in the town University Hospital.
A 14-year-old girl has died after being given a cervical cancer vaccination as part of a national immunization programme in England, but the exact cause of death is unknown. The pupil was taken ill at Blue Coat Cof E School in Coventry shortly after she received the Cervarix vaccine. She died in the town University Hospital.
Officials said there would be a "short pause" in the vaccination programme but it would then continue. The batch of the vaccine used has been placed into quarantine.
There was some controversy about the UK choosing Cervarix over Gardasil. Some experts think Gardasil would have been a better option because it targets four strains of HPV...two responsible for cervical cancer and two causing the less serious condition of genital warts. Gardasil is used by the majority of vaccination programs world wide, which are already up and running.However, the Department of Health insists Cervarix came out on top after a rigorous assessment.
A routine programme of vaccinating 12 and 13-year-old girls started in September 2008 across the UK using the Cervarix vaccine made by GlaxoSmithKline. A catch-up campaign is now under way for older girls(14 to 18). The injection offers protection against the human papilloma virus (HPV), the most common cause of cervical cancer.
The girl, who has not yet been named, died at lunchtime on Monday. The incident happened shortly after the girl had received her HPV vaccine in the school. No link can be made between the death and the vaccine until all the facts are known and a post-mortem takes place. A small number of girls at the school had also reported mild symptoms such as dizziness and nausea but they were not admitted to hospital. It's believed the girl suffered a rare, but extreme reaction to the vaccine.
The girl, who has not yet been named, died at lunchtime on Monday. The incident happened shortly after the girl had received her HPV vaccine in the school. No link can be made between the death and the vaccine until all the facts are known and a post-mortem takes place. A small number of girls at the school had also reported mild symptoms such as dizziness and nausea but they were not admitted to hospital. It's believed the girl suffered a rare, but extreme reaction to the vaccine.
Possible reactions are mild to moderate, short-lasting pain at the injection site, headache, muscle pain, fatigue and a low-grade fever. It is thought about a million girls have already safely received the vaccine.
I feel for the family.
ReplyDeleteI hope it's nothing wrong with the vaccine and everything continue to stay on track.
About a million girls been vaccinated and this is the first death we have heard about.
Now it's a waiting game to see what went wrong.
One thing I can say the doctors are not trying to cover it up. They are keeping the public aware of whats going on.So lets not judge until the jury is in.