HPV and your child
In each stage of your child’s life, you must tackle new issues, decide what is best, and set new limits. As a parent, you do these things to keep your children safe.
Getting your child vaccinated against HPV is one of the best ways to protect her from this virus and the disease it causes.
Vaccination against HPV is now available. The Government of Canada has approved HPV vaccination because studies showed that it is 100% effective at preventing disease from the four most dangerous kinds of HPV.
What’s in these vaccines?
It is fluid that contains tiny particles that ”mimic” HPV but cannot cause infection or cancer like real HPV might. After the fluid is injected, the body quickly starts making antibodies and white blood cells to fight against the types of HPV it protects against. It is this immune response by a healthy body that fights HPV and protects people from the real infection. There is no virus in the liquid. Because it contains no live virus, the person being vaccinated is in no danger of getting HPV.
Is vaccination safe?
The Government of Canada has reviewed HPV vaccination and approved it for use in Canada. It made this decision based on many clinical studies that showed HPV vaccination was safe, and that the subjects in the studies had very few side effects. The main one was feeling sore for a little while in the place where they received the injection.
Be aware that HPV vaccines do not contain any live or dead form of the HPV virus. Nor do they contain any preservatives, latex, antibiotics, thimerosal or mercury. You cannot become infected with HPV from vaccination.
What are the limits to vaccination?
Vaccination only protects people from four types of HPV:
• types 6 and 11 which can cause genital warts and sores; and
• types 16 and 18 which can cause cervical cancer.
Although research shows there are more than 100 types of HPV, vaccination does not address all of them. Scientists are trying to find out if vaccination also protects against other types of HPV that are like those covered in the vaccination.
How long does the immunity last?
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 bodies remain very high after they receive all three injections. This means they still have strong protection against HPV.
Related Links:
* For more information on HPV
* Who should get vaccinated and why?
* Where can my daughter get vaccinated?
* What else can I do to protect her from HPV & cancer of the cervix?
* For information on Contraception