The appropriate age for girls to be vaccinated against HPV is 9 years
ESTIMATED MAYO CLINIC:
The pediatrician recommended that our 9 year old daughter get the HPV vaccine. It seems premature at this age administer a vaccine used to protect women against sexually transmitted diseases. Would it be better to wait? What are the side effects? How to know if the vaccine is safe?
ANSWER from Dr. Robert Jacobson, Community Pediatrics Children and Adolescents, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA:
The age of 9 years is good for girls to be vaccinated against infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). This important vaccine protects against cervical cancer, common type of cancer that put an end to female fertility and can be fatal. Side effects of the vaccine are rare and usually mild. There is evidence that this vaccine HPV anti-cancer is safe and effective.
Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV, a sexually transmitted infection. The Food and Drug Administration of USA (FDA) has approved two vaccines against cervical cancer: Cervarix and Gardasil. In order that the vaccine is effective, it must be administered in three doses over a period of six months. The vaccine has been successful in preventing cervical cancer in most cases that were administered in three doses over a girl or woman before laying out the virus. It also can prevent most cancers of the vagina and vulva.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the HPV vaccine is administered to girls aged 11 to 12 years, and even allows vaccination starting at age 9 years. Mayo Clinic starts at 9 years due to several reasons below.
First, when a preteen or teen girl is healthy, does not usually go to the doctor often making it difficult to make sure you get the HPV vaccine in a timely manner. In most girls of 9 or 10 years instead, parents are those who take medical check-ups, offering a good opportunity to start managing the series of HPV vaccine.
Second, the time a child’s body responds better to vaccines than ever is when you have between 9 and 11. Therefore, the administration of the HPV vaccine at age 9 years can take advantage of this ideal opportunity for her to get the vaccine at the right time.
Third, many teenagers are sexually active, so do not expect to finish until adolescence to administer the vaccine without and at risk. A child is protected when receiving three doses of vaccine before exposure to the virus, but if having sex before completing the entire series of the vaccine are at risk for HPV infection.
Some adults have expressed concern that the HPV vaccine may encourage sexual activity among girls ahead of schedule, but none of the several investigations have failed to find evidence that vaccination against HPV incite changes in sexual behavior of girls.
The vaccine went through an extensive process before receiving FDA approval and has been proven safe. Since the authorization was granted, have been closely managed and controlled more than 60 million doses, which has led to collect large amounts of data to support the safety and efficacy of the vaccine against HPV.
A previous concern about the vaccine was the idea that could lead to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurological disorder. He has researched extensively on this possibility, but no link was found. In addition, there is no evidence to support the claim that the HPV vaccine causes mental retardation.
Side effects of the HPV vaccine are usually mild and typically include pain, swelling or redness at the site where the vaccine was administered. In adolescents, the HPV vaccine can cause fainting, because teenagers are prone to it with all vaccinations and blood draws. That’s another reason why it is good to start early administration of this vaccine, before the child begins adolescence. After receiving the vaccine, patients must remain seated for about 15 minutes to reduce the risk of injury due to faint and should alert the health care provider if they have one.
Anticancer vaccine against HPV is safe, effective and can protect her daughter from a deadly type of cancer. The administration of the vaccine is a critical step to ensure the health of his daughter in the long run.
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