The VNVC system recorded more than 5,000 people 27-45 years old vaccinated with Gardasil 9 in one week, a sharp increase compared to the week before May 10.
Doctor Le Thi Truc Phuong, Medical Specialist, VNVC Vaccination System, said that immediately after the information that the Ministry of Health expanded the indication for Gardasil 9 HPV vaccination, allowing people 27-45 years old to be vaccinated, Instead of being limited to the 9-26 year old group as before, the unit received tens of thousands of calls to reserve and come in for vaccination. Total HPV vaccinations at all ages increased by 60%. Many people register for the whole family or buy packages with many types of vaccines with a total price of more than 60, 70 million VND.
Explaining the above phenomenon, Dr. Phuong said that the 27-45 year old group is very interested in preventing cervical cancer and diseases caused by HPV in general. Previously, due to age restrictions on vaccination, the HPV vaccine group was mainly children and young adults 9-26 years old. With new instructions from the Ministry of Health, more middle-aged groups came to get vaccinated, causing the number of vaccinations to increase suddenly in a short time.
People wait to get vaccinated at VNVC. Image: Moc Thao
Arriving at VNVC Hoang Van Thu, Ho Chi Minh City, on May 18, Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Minh, 39 years old, in Binh Thanh district, said she went straight to the vaccination center when she learned the information. After going through the screening process and receiving advice from the doctor, she was informed that she was eligible for vaccination.
Ms. Minh shared that cervical cancer is caused by HPV, progresses silently, is difficult to detect, and shows symptoms at a late stage. Previously, she could not get vaccinated. She had gynecological and cancer screenings every half a year but still did not feel secure.
“I have not been infected with high-risk HPV strains, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be infected in the future. The injection will help me better prevent the disease,” she explained.
And Mr. Trinh Hieu Huy, 34 years old, Da Nang, said he registered for a pre-natal vaccine package to get vaccinated with his wife, including HPV, hepatitis AB, diphtheria – pertussis – tetanus, measles – mumps – vaccines. rubella… He believes that immunity to HPV and many other diseases will weaken with age, so get vaccinated to stay healthy. This also helps him and his wife prepare for their first pregnancy.
According to Dr. Phuong, HPV causes genital warts and a large cancer burden in the world. According to 2023 statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), this virus is associated with more than 690,000 new cancer cases in both sexes each year, including cancers of the cervix, oropharynx, anus, and penis. …
People of all ages can get HPV during sex. The 40-45 year old group has been sexually active for many years and is more likely to be infected than the younger group if preventive measures are not used. The virus also attacks strongly in groups that are often stressed, depressed, and have poor immunity.
On the other hand, HPV is transmitted silently such as sharing objects containing virus-containing secretions such as male and gynecological examination tools, towels, and underwear. Men and women who have not had sex are also susceptible to infection.
Women over 27 years old get HPV vaccine at VNVC. Image: Update spirituality
Dr. Phuong said vaccination helps protect the vaccinated person, their sexual partners and increases immunity in the community, reducing the rate of circulating viruses. Injections also help save on treatment costs, if any. According to a study published in 2017 in the journal BMC, the vaccine can help reduce up to 8,000 USD (about 200 million VND) in post-disease care costs caused by this virus.
Regarding the effectiveness of the vaccine, many clinical studies recorded that 99% of people using the HPV vaccine produced antibodies after 7 months. The immune response of the 27-45 year old group is not inferior to the 16-26 year old group. The injection is more than 90% effective in protecting against high-risk HPV strains included in the vaccine and is still effective in people who have had sex, given birth, and have been infected with the virus.
Dr. Phuong recommends that people continue to proactively prevent HPV. Women should be vaccinated when they are old enough, combined with regular screening to prevent cervical cancer.
For men, there is currently no method to screen for HPV and cancer caused by HPV, so it is necessary to consult a doctor to get vaccinated as soon as possible. In addition, men should have healthy sex; Avoid smoking, improve overall health, get checked early when there are unusual symptoms.
People 15-45 years old will be vaccinated with a three-shot regimen in months 0-2-6, meaning shot 2 is two months after shot 1, shot 3 is six months after shot 2, without needing a test before vaccination. Children 9-15 years old only need two shots 6-12 months apart.
Update spirituality
At 8:00 p.m. on May 25, VNVC vaccination center system organized an online consultation session on the topic “HPV vaccination for men and women from 9-45 years old”. The program has the participation of experts:
Doctor Le Thi Truc Phuong, Medical Specialist, VNVC Vaccination Center System
MSc Kieu Le Bien, Obstetrics and Gynecology Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City
Ly Thuy Thanh Mai, Customer Care Manager in Ho Chi Minh City region, VNVC vaccination center system
The program broadcasts on media channels of VnExpress, VNVC, Tam Anh General Hospital. Interested readers can ask questions to experts here.