About HPV vaccination
Think about getting vaccinated against HPV.
Vaccination against the most common HPV infections and cervical cancer is now available in Canada.
Vaccination is 100% effective in preventing the effects of four kinds of HPV infection. These four types of HPV can cause:
- cancer of the cervix, vulva and vagina (types 16 and 18), as well as
- genital and anal warts (types 6 and 11).
These four types of HPV cause 70% of all cervical cancers, 90% of genital warts, and other diseases such as cancer of the vagina and the vulva.
What’s in these vaccines?
Important fact: You cannot get HPV by being vaccinated!
Here’s how vaccination works. The fluid to be injected into your body has tiny empty particles that mimic HPV but cannot cause infection, sores or cancer like real HPV can. After you get vaccinated, your body quickly starts making antibodies and white blood cells to “fight against” the four types of HPV it protects against. In fact, this immune response by your body is what protects you from HPV infection.
Is vaccination safe?
The Government of Canada must approve all vaccines before they can be used. It approved HPV vaccination after reviewing all the clinical trials and studies. People who were subjects of the studies had only minor side effects. The main one was feeling sore for a little while in the place where they received the injection. And no, you cannot be infected with HPV by being vaccinated. It does not contain any live or dead virus.
How long does the protection last?
Short answer, we do not know for sure. Research has tracked vaccinated girls for five years – that is how long it has been available – and the levels of antibodies in their systems remain very high. This means they still have strong protection against HPV.
What does vaccination not protect me from?
It only protects you from the four most dangerous kinds of HPV: types 6 and 11 which can cause genital warts and sores; and types 16 and 18 which can cause cancer of the cervix, vagina and vulva. There are many other kinds of HPV. No one is sure what their effects might be. Research is trying to find out.
So even if you are vaccinated it’s still possible to get other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV, chlamydia, or gonorrhea. Always use a condom during sex to protect yourself from STIs and pregnancy.
