CERVARIX

Remember that gist I told you about yesterday I had with a friend that birthed two posts? Well, this is the second post.

We were talking about Cervical Cancer and prevention and I told her about Cervarix. In case you have not heard, Cervarix is a vaccine against certain types of cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV). Cervarix is designed to prevent infection from HPV types 16 and 18, that cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases. These types also cause most HPV-induced genital and head and neck cancers.(Wikipedia)

Well, I took my son to get his vaccination when I learned from the nurse that the vaccine was available at UNTH Old Site ( for those who live in Enugu) but you must have screened and found to be negative before you go for the vaccine. So, armed with this info, I went to spread the good news to all who cared to listen to me. 

Imagine my surprise when my friend told me she went to get the vaccine and was told by the doctor that she couldn't get as she was too old!!! Well, I went back to some doctor friends of mine to find out why this was so and I was informed that it was because the vaccine gets less effective with age and may not be useful if you have been sexually exposed.

That notwithstanding, the vaccine is available for females from the ages of 9-25 years. It is given in 0,1 and 6 months.That means that you get the vaccine now, then a month later, you collect the second dose. 6 months later, you get the last dose. You pay for each dose though, so go prepared. 

Whether you get the vaccine or not, you still need a pap smear or Liquid based cytology (a better option, if you ask me) test done every other year to screen for HPV and for cervical cancers. Remember, a stitch in time, saves nine. There are some centres that offer the test at a very subsidized rate but a few places where they are available charge a fee for it. 

Till next post,

Your Friendly Health Worker...