Too old for cervical cancer vaccine?!

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The Cervarix vaccine made by GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) and the Gardasil vaccine made by Merck are the vaccines currently licenses for use in protecting against HPV. They are both given in the upper arm in three doses over six months. The Cervarix vaccine is approved for women between the ages of 10 & 25 years and protects against HPV types 16 & 18 that cause 75% of cervical cancers. The Gardasil vaccine is a quadrivalent vaccine that is approved for both men and women between the ages of 9 & 26 and protects against HPV types 16 & 18 as well as HPV types 6 & 11 that cause 90% of genital warts. Gardasil also protects girls and young women between 9 & 26 against 70% of vaginal cancer cases and up to 50% of vulvar cancer cases.

In Ireland, the Health Service Executive has commenced the HPV Vaccination Program in second level schools and the vaccinations will be free of charge from the HSE. All girls who are starting 1st Year and 2nd Year in September 2010 will be offered the vaccine this year. The Gardasil vaccine will be the one used. Older girls will not be vaccinated in this programme but they can get the vaccine privately from their GP. There is a Merck Vaccine Patient Assistance Program (MVPAP) that is a program funded by Merck & Co. for adults 19 or older who cannot afford vaccines. MVPAP offers free vaccines to people who are: 1) Are 19 years or older, 2) Do not have health insurance, or 3) Cannot afford to pay for the vaccines.

You are still in the recommended age range to receive the vaccine so you should contact your GP about getting vaccinated. You would be taking a wise step towards protecting your health. If you have health insurance, it may cover the cost of Gardasil. If not, ask your GP about getting the vaccine through the MVPAP program. The vaccine chosen for use in Ireland's vaccination programme is the Gardasil vaccine and is the one that provides the most protection.

The HPV vaccine is licensed for use in women up to the age of 26.

Evidence shows the vaccine is more effective when given before you come into contact with HPV, which is why it's generally given to younger women before they are sexually active. The idea of the vaccine is to prevent HPV, it may not have any effect on any existing HPV you may have.

In the UK and Ireland, the vaccine is free for girls aged 12-18. If you are over this age, you would need to pay privately.

If you are already sexually active then you are likely to already be infected (70% of sexually active adults are).

If you are outside the recommended age group there is usually a higher charge involved (subsidies exist in most places for teenage girls) but the re is no reason yuo cannot request it from your Dr.

After studying all information available my daughter chose to have it as a sexually active 21 year old.

If you have not engaged in a particularly risky number of unprotected sexual encounters with large numbers of men, the vaccine could still help prevent the subtypes of HPV that are covered. The worst that could happen is that the vaccine might not benefit you. If you have had limited sexual contacts, I would suggest getting the vaccine. The Irish medical system is not known to me as an American doctor. I do not know how the vaccine would be covered there. In general I like precautionary steps that can't hurt and might help. Anything that prevents cancer is better than treating it after it occurs.

MD hematologist and medical oncologist - cancer and leukemia specialist physician for 20 years

Up until 26! You can still get it :) I got it after I was 12.. I think I was 16 or 17 when I got mine?

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cervical-cancer-vaccine/WO00120

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNJi67yHY…
http://truthaboutgardasil.org/

RedAngel