Dr.Deyn | 9 August 2019, reviewed and updated on 10 April 2023

HPV VACCINE PRICELIST AND PROMOTION AT PULSE CLINIC

Book Your HPV Vaccination Today!

For any inquiries about getting HPV vaccines at PULSE Clinic, please contact info.bkk@pulse-clinic.com or any of the following platforms

 +66 65 237 1936    @PULSEClinic   PulseClinic

HPV: What It Is and How It Spreads – Key Facts You Need to Know

HPV is very common and you can catch it through intimate sexual contact with another person who already has it. There are over 200 types of HPV. Because it's so common, most people will get infected eventually. People are often infected without knowing it as there are usually no symptoms and infections tend to go away on their own. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection. HPV is spread mainly by skin-to-skin contact, not just anal and vaginal and oral sex.

Genital HPV infections are highly contagious and typically spread through sexual contact. Almost all sexually active individuals will contract HPV at some stage in their lives. The likelihood of infection increases with the number of sexual partners you or your partners have.

How to Protect Yourself from HPV Warts and HPV-Related Cancers – Prevention Tips

As you may know, there are many types of HPV (Human Papillomavirus), with types 6, 11, 16, and 18 being the primary contributors to cervical cancer in women and anal cancer in men. Over 90% of cervical cancer cases are linked to HPV. However, HPV also affects men, accounting for nearly 40% of HPV-related cancers. Each year in the U.S., more than 13,000 men are diagnosed with cancers caused by HPV. Fortunately, these cancers can largely be prevented through the HPV vaccine.

What Health Risks Can HPV Cause?

HPV infections that persist can lead to cancers – anal, throat, and penile (penis) cancers in men, and cervical cancer in women.

HPV type 16, 18 are the major causes of cervical cancer  and are the main cause of HPV-associated cancers in males and females such as

• Anus and back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils (oropharynx), in both women and men.
• Penile cancer in men
• Cervix, vagina, and vulva in women.

HPV type  6, 11 are the main causes of anal warts and genital warts. 
HPV type 31, 33, 45, 52, 58 are 15% cause of cervical cancer.

Cancer can take years, even decades, to develop after a person is infected with HPV. The Centers for Disease Control recommends HPV vaccination at ages 11-12 to help protect against these cancers. It is impossible to predict who will develop cancer or other health issues from HPV. Individuals with weakened immune systems, including those with HIV/AIDS, may be less capable of combating HPV and are at a higher risk of experiencing related health problems.

HPV Vaccine: Essential Information and Benefits for Protection

There are 3 types of HPV vaccine, all of them are non-infectious vaccine

• 2v = bivalent HPV vaccine (Cervarix, HPV 16, 18)
• 4v = quadrivalent HPV vaccine (Gardasil^®4, HPV 6, 11, 16, 18)
• 9v = nonavalent HPV vaccine (Gardasil^®9, HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58)

The 2v, 4v, and 9v HPV vaccines specifically target HPV types 16 and 18, which are responsible for approximately 66% of cervical cancer cases and are the leading causes of HPV-related cancers in both men and women (including the six types mentioned earlier). The 4v and 9v vaccines also protect against HPV types 6 and 11, which are the primary causes of anal and genital warts. Additionally, the 9v vaccine protects against five more types: HPV 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58, which account for about 15% of cervical cancer cases.

The 9v HPV vaccine (9vHPV, Gardasil®9, Merck & Co.) was approved by the US FDA for use in both males and females in December 2014. In February 2015, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended Gardasil®9 for cancer prevention in both genders. It is widely utilized for prevention in developed countries.

HPV Vaccine Schedule: When to Start and How Many Doses You Need

As soon as possible. In October 2016 ACIP recommended HPV dosage according to age starting the first dose.

• Age less than 15 years old: 2-doses regimen (day 1 and month 6)
• Age above 15 years old: 3-doses regimen (day 1, month 1-2, month 6)
• Immunocompromised people such as HIV infected patient: 3-doses regimen (day 1, month 1-2, month 6) regardless of age

HPV Vaccination Transition: Completing Your Series from 4v or 2v to 9v – Essential Information

• If you started with 2v or 4v, can you complete with 9v?
  - YES, you can
• If you completed 2v or 4v course, do you need to receive 9v course again, what would we suggest?
  - Most HPV-related cancers are caused by HPV 16, 18 which is already covered by 4v or 2v.
  - The benefit of 5-additional types (9v) would be for women, as mentioned above (HPV 31, 33, 45, 52, 58 which are 15% cause of cervical cancer.)
  - You still need cervical cancer screening from age 21-65 years old regardless if you are a vaccinated or unvaccinated women.

The HPV vaccine is safe and highly efficacious and can significantly reduce the burden of HPV-related genital warts and cancers among men, in addition to promoting herd immunity.

HPV Vaccine Side Effects

HPV vaccination can cause side effects. The most common side effects are mild and include:

• Pain, redness, or swelling in the arm where the shot was given
• Dizziness or fainting (fainting after any vaccine, including HPV vaccine, is more common among adolescents)
• Nausea
• Headache

The benefits of HPV vaccination far outweigh any potential risk of side effects.