truths and misconceptions about the HPV vaccine cervical cancer | Info

Source: MONDO/Stefan Stojanović

“Immunization Week in Europe”, which is traditionally celebrated in the last week of April, has its campaign in Serbia as well, with the aim of drawing public attention to the importance of immunization from the earliest age, because the effect of the vaccine is strongest then. Although statistics show that the coverage of total vaccination in Serbia in 2023 is higher than in 2022, “it could be even higher”, according to experts.

One of the “worrying” data is that of the percentage of people vaccinated against the human papilloma virus (HPV), the main cause of cervical cancer, which, according to the authorities, is a very low coverage.

The fact that HPV is a sexually transmitted infection led a good part of the uninformed mass to the opinion that “abstaining from sexual activity” is sufficient prevention, that the spread can be stopped by “using condoms”, and that “promiscuous children, unlike those whose parents raise correctly”. At least that’s what the survey we conducted, as well as users of social networks, say.

“Given that this is a disease that is very rarely transmitted among non-promiscuous, there is no need to vaccinate if you do not raise dogs and gigolos”; “she got infected because she didn’t hear about contraception”; “we better work on raising children, so we won’t need a vaccine”… these are just some of the “considerations”.

In a country where between 1,300 and 1,500 women fall ill with this disease annually, and 50 percent die, despite the available effective weapons we have against it, this is a wake-up call, experts believe, adding that it shows low awareness of a serious topic. Along with that, there are worrying statistics that showed that at the end of 2023, out of 600,000 children in this age category from 9 to 19 who are candidates for receiving the HPV vaccine, only five percent have been vaccinated so far, of which 23,000 girls and 7,000 boys .

This vaccine is free in Serbia, it is not mandatory but it is recommended. It reduces the number of cervical cancer patients by almost 90 percent, according to the first data from a British study. Their research team described the first findings as historic and said they show how “this vaccine saves lives.”

According to data from the Institute for Public Health of Serbia “Dr. Milan Jovanović Batut”, last year in our country, 424 women lost their battle with cervical cancer.

Serbia is the second in terms of mortality from cervical cancer, and the fourth in the incidence of preventable cancer, according to the latest data from the European Network of Cancer Registries, published by the Association of Oncologists and Gynecologists of Serbia in January 2021.

The vaccine against HPV has been used in the world for more than 10 years, and during follow-up of vaccination in countries that started the immunization process, high safety and effectiveness of the vaccine was observed. For this reason, the World Health Organization has categorized it as extremely safe, the Association stated in an earlier announcement.

“The experience with my patients is varied, although a good part of them are sufficiently informed, I notice a strong influence of that other stream, which doubts, questions and succumbs to crazy conspiracy theories about the harmfulness of vaccination. Imagine, you have at your disposal a vaccine that almost completely eliminates the possibility of cancer of the cervix, which has been researched for years, studied through making, and then used for more than a decade in the world, and now you doubt it”, gynecologist Marijana R., who works in her private practice in Belgrade, told MONDO, but also added that she notices a similar practice when it comes to the general topic of vaccination, which she considers a signal that it is necessary to do an even stronger campaign to raise awareness among people.

Although the primary group for this vaccine is girls and boys aged 9 to 19 who have not yet entered into sexual relations, it is also available to the elderly. The news that the HPV vaccine is available free of charge to students up to the age of 26 in Serbia from April 4 pleased many of them, as they confirmed to us in the student polyclinic in Belgrade, where they themselves were interested in the possibility of having it at the expense of the Republic Fund. for health insurance enable vaccination.

“Student polyclinic Belgrade. Immunization against the HPV virus. Appointments at Gynecology 011 2433986 and General for Men 011 2430 814. You can walk in without an appointment and bring a certified health certificate, this applies to students up to 26 years old, and this is me getting the first dose “, wrote one student, who shared a photo of the vaccination on the X network, but also devoted a whole series of posts to the importance of this procedure in order to show “what vaccination looks like and that nothing terrible will happen to him”.

Given that boys can also be carriers of HPV infection, and therefore also suffer from cancer related to this virus, they should also receive the vaccine, experts explain, and studies confirm this – every third boy after the age of 15 is infected with at least one strain of HP virus.

“The misconception is that men are not in danger, then the misconception that it “affects masculinity” and the like continues. Again, from elementary ignorance, prejudices arise which, as in any other segment, are very dangerous. I am happy, however, that I see quite enlightened young people, students and senior high school students, on this issue”, added doctor Marijana.

“Vaccine leads teenagers to early sexual relations”

Countries with multi-year HPV immunization programs have also conducted research in this field, but no increase in promiscuous behavior among the immunized youth population has been shown. By receiving the vaccine, the immunized person must still protect against other infections or unwanted pregnancy, and the vaccine itself cannot even indirectly “relieve” the person of responsibility when it comes to sexual activity.

“Potential Link Between Vaccination and Sterility”

There is no scientific study that has linked this, in fact every one has found the exact opposite. Several scientific studies have so far proven the absence of any relationship between HPV immunization and sterility in different age groups. Since HPV immunization aims to prevent infection that can lead to damage to reproductive health, preserving reproductive health actually prevents the occurrence of sterility as a consequence of HPV infection.

You can often hear or read that “someone is trying to wipe out our species” in some of the statuses on the networks, but despite the suspicion of a world conspiracy against the Serbs, this, according to experts, is completely insane and contrary to scientifically proven facts. In particular, the HPV vaccine and its widespread use in Europe and the world speak in favor of its importance.

Actually – he can’t cause it. HPV-related cancers occur when the virus replicates in our cells, acting through its oncogenic proteins E6 and E7. To prevent these cancers, we must prevent the infection and spread of the virus. An HPV vaccine has been developed to stimulate our immunity to defend against the virus, but the vaccine itself does not contain the live virus. Instead, it contains the pure viral protein L1, which stimulates the creation of a strong immune response, but cannot cause the changes that lead to cancer. This immunity lasts a long time, it has been proven that it remains active up to 15 years after vaccination, because the antibodies that protect against infection are still maintained at a stable level over time.

Countries such as Australia and Scandinavian countries that started with HPV vaccination 10 or more years ago show that the incidence has been reduced by 95 percent, and cervical cancer has almost been eradicated.

Since 2004, the Gardasil 9 vaccine has been available worldwide, and the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control are closely monitoring possible adverse reactions.

According to the World Health Organization, more than a hundred countries around the world are implementing HPV vaccination programs, with more than a hundred million doses given to date. In 2014, a group of scientists conducted additional studies in which women were given the Gardasil 9 vaccine or a placebo, with their consent. No changes were observed that would indicate any impairment of health in the women who received the vaccine.

According to the statistics of the “Europeancancer” organization, the acceptance of vaccination in many countries of the European Union is well below 90 percent. In Luxembourg, the final dose coverage rate was only 14 percent in 2019, in France 24 percent, Germany 31 percent, Italy 40 percent, and the Netherlands 53 percent. No EU country achieved an uptake of 90 percent or more for the final dose, the survey found.

Cervical cancer is the second most common form of cancer in women, and the third cause of death. And it is completely preventable. Since in more than 90 percent of cases it is caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), vaccination against that virus can stop it, and with a sufficient percentage of vaccination, over time, it can be eradicated.

With early diagnosis, it can also be completely cured, and the “weapon” for that fight (and victory) is regular gynecological examinations and vaccination.