Get pregnant as early as possible! HPV vaccines are free in many places...

The 2022 Government Work Report pointed out that we should effectively safeguard and improve people's livelihood and enhance the capacity of medical and health services. It also pointed out that we should adhere to prevention first and further promote the Healthy China Action.

In recent years, cervical cancer has shown an increasing incidence and a younger onset, which seriously threatens the life and health of women. HPV vaccination is one of the effective measures to prevent cervical cancer. To this end, many places in my country have deployed free HPV vaccination for women of appropriate age.

Data map: Female students in Chengdu receive HPV vaccine

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HPV vaccination for women of appropriate age is being carried out in many places

Recently, Hainan Province issued the "Implementation Plan for the HPV Vaccination Project for School-age Girls in Hainan Province in 2022", which plans to vaccinate 71,000 school-age girls with HPV vaccine in 2022. The project will be implemented in 18 cities and counties in Hainan Province and Yangpu.

Cervical cancer is a malignant tumor that seriously threatens women's health. Persistent infection with high-risk HPV is a necessary condition for the occurrence of cervical cancer. HPV vaccine can block persistent infection with high-risk HPV, thereby effectively reducing the incidence of cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. Therefore, promoting HPV vaccination among the appropriate age population is an effective measure to prevent cervical cancer.

Previously, the National Health Commission stated that my country will promote pilot projects first, encourage qualified regions to actively adopt various financing models, and gradually carry out free HPV vaccination. Since 2020, Ordos, Xiamen, Chengdu, Wuxi, Zhengzhou and other places have successively carried out or announced that they will carry out free HPV vaccination.

In addition, the Zhejiang Provincial Health Commission recently responded to a question from netizens, stating that it would promote the implementation of comprehensive prevention and control strategies in the pilot area (Yinzhou District) to provide free HPV vaccination for people of appropriate age. As the level of economic and social development gradually improves, it is not ruled out that free vaccination will be implemented throughout the province in the future.

Zhejiang Provincial Health Commission responded to netizens' comments

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Cervical cancer rates on the rise

The trend of younger people is prominent

Cervical cancer is a highly prevalent malignant tumor among women and is recognized worldwide as a major "killer" threatening women's health. It ranks fourth in the global incidence and mortality of female cancers.

In recent years, cervical cancer has shown an increasing incidence and a younger age of onset. The youngest age of cervical cancer is as low as 15 years old, and the proportion of young cervical cancer patients under 35 years old is gradually increasing. Protecting adolescent girls from HPV infection is the primary key measure to reduce the occurrence of cervical cancer in the future.

HPV vaccination is one of the effective measures to prevent cervical cancer. The World Health Organization pointed out in the Global Strategy for Accelerating the Elimination of Cervical Cancer that there are three key measures to eliminate cervical cancer: vaccination, screening and treatment. The WHO proposed that by 2030, 90% of girls will be vaccinated with HPV vaccine before the age of 15. Based on my country's national conditions, the National Health Commission recommends that the primary target population for vaccination is girls aged 13 to 15.

Data map: Domestic HPV vaccine

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HPV vaccination should be given as early as possible

At present, there are four HPV vaccines approved for marketing in my country, and their safety and effectiveness have been verified. Tan Xianjie, chief physician of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, once told the media that "the HPV vaccines available globally include bivalent, quadrivalent and nonavalent. The 'price' represents the sub-types of viruses covered by the vaccine. The higher the price, the wider the coverage of viruses." However, it is currently difficult to get a shot of the nine-valent vaccine in my country.

Experts said that if the public cannot make an appointment for the high-priced vaccine, they should also get the low-priced HPV vaccine in time to get the best protection. If the main demand is to prevent cervical cancer, the bivalent vaccine can basically meet the demand, "the high-priced vaccine will play a role in preventing cervical cancer, but it is not a must."

Li Xiaomao, director of the Department of Gynecology at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, said that HPV is mainly transmitted through sex, so the best recommended age for vaccination is before the first sexual intercourse. However, after having sex, the chance of infection is greater.

HPV vaccine can effectively prevent cervical cancer, but current vaccine resources are limited. In this case, it is recommended that HPV vaccination be given before the first sexual intercourse to achieve the best preventive effect. Vaccination of prepubertal girls is the best prevention and control strategy, and "early vaccination means early benefits."

Tan Xianjie also reminded that the vaccine’s protection rate is not 100%, and regular screening is still required after vaccination to prevent cervical cancer.

Source: Science Popularization China WeChat Official Account