Vaccine against HPV

A safe start to adulthood

Cervical cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in women. An important factor of its development is infection with the HPV virus (Human Papillomavirus). Other factors include smoking, leading an unhealthy lifestyle, and many other natural causes. There are over 100 types of HPV - some of them can cause benign changes, e.g. in the form of skin warts, others lead to the development of malignant cancer.

Why should you vaccinate?

Infection with certain types of HPV is one of the causes of cervical cancer and genital warts (condylomata acuminata).

Nearly 100% of cervical cancers are caused by only a few HPV subtypes. These are mainly types: 16 and 18, as well as 31, 33, 45 - that is viruses with a high oncogenic risk.

The non-oncogenic types, of which the most common are 6 and 11, cause the formation of genital warts.

HPV infections can also lead to cancer of the rectum, oropharyngeal space, vagina, vulva, and penis.

Only a small fraction of people are aware that they carry HPV. It should be remembered that both men and women can catch the virus. Since HPV infection can be asymptomatic, carriers may infect their sexual partners.

Infection occurs through sexual contact with a person carrying the virus, most often in the initial period after the onset of sexual activity. That is why it is so important to vaccinate before sexual initiation.

It is believed that approximately 50–80% of sexually active men and women have been or will be infected with the virus during their lifetime.

Cervical cancer is a cancer that can be avoided or detected at an early, completely curable stage of development thanks to the preventive measures available (vaccination against oncogenic HPV variants and PAP smears).

Vaccination against HPV creates immunity and avoids infection with the HPV virus, and thus significantly reduces the risk of developing cervical cancer.

HPV vaccination is not reimbursed, but is recommended by the Minister of Health in the Polish Immunization Program. Widespread vaccination against HPV is also recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) and international and national scientific societies (paediatric, gynaecological and oncological).

Vaccine against HPV

The vaccine protects against 9 types of HPV: 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58 (seven of them are responsible for nearly 90% of all cases of cervical cancer). It also helps prevent genital warts, cancers and precancerous lesions of the vulva, vagina, cervix and rectum caused by certain types of HPV.

The vaccine:

• is intended for adults and children over 9 years of age,
• protects against the HPV virus for up to 50 years, if given at a young age,
• gives full immunization after just 2 doses in children up to the age of 14, while 3 doses are needed for people aged 14 and over.

1. First, select the city and the Medical Centre where you would like to have the vaccination.NOTE: Qualifying visits for vaccination are not included in the price. Patients who do not have these visits included in their healthcare plan can purchase them separately.
2. After paying for the vaccination, book a qualifying visit for vaccinations. This visit is required prior to each vaccine administration. Vaccination takes place immediately after the qualifying visit.
3. You can purchase and book the visit at a Medicover Centre reception desk or by calling the Hotline at +48 500 900 550.

   If the doctor does not approve the patient for vaccination, the patient must book another qualifying visit on the date indicated by the doctor. The patient must pay for this visit separately (unless it is included in the patient’s healthcare plan).

What should you know about the vaccination?

The vaccination schedule depends on the age of the patient.

For children between 9 to 14 years of age two dosing options are possible:

• 2-dose schedule ‒ the first dose is given on any day and the second is given 5-13 months later; if the interval between both doses is shorter than 5 months, it is necessary to administer the vaccine for the third time;
• 3-dose schedule ‒ all doses should be administered within 1 year; the first dose should be given on a selected date, the second should be given approximately 2 months later, and the third should not be earlier than 3 months after the second injection.

For adults and youths over 15 years of age, the following applies:

• 3-dose schedule ‒ all doses should be administered within 1 year; the first dose should be given on a selected date, the second should be given approximately 2 months later, and the third six months after the first injection, but at least three months after the second dose.

The entire vaccination cycle should be performed with the same vaccine. If the 2-valent vaccine is not available, the vaccination cycle can be completed with the 9-valent vaccine.If the administration of subsequent doses is delayed, the vaccination course should be completed as soon as possible. It is not necessary to restart the entire vaccination course from the beginning or repeat doses.

Vaccine administration

The vaccination does not require any special preparation.

The vaccine should be administered intramuscularly in the deltoid region or in the upper anterolateral part of the thigh.

The HPV vaccine can be administered alongside other vaccinations, after prior approval by a doctor.

Contraindications to vaccination are as follows:

• hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients,
• development of symptoms of hypersensitivity after previous vaccine administration,
• age under 9 years.

Vaccination should be postponed in patients suffering from acute, severe febrile illness (the presence of a minor infection, such as a mild upper respiratory tract infection or mild fever is not a contraindication to vaccination).

Remember that vaccination is not a substitute for regular PAP smear tests or taking preventive measures against exposure to HPV and sexually transmitted diseases.