Can I sit back and relax after getting the HPV vaccine?

As the HPV bivalent, quadrivalent, and nine-valent vaccines are fully launched in China, many female friends have taken the time to get vaccinated. However, some people have entered into a misunderstanding, thinking that after receiving the HPV vaccine, everything will be fine and they can sit back and relax. This idea is completely wrong.

We know that HPV viruses are divided into many types. So far, more than 100 HPV subtypes have been discovered, which can be divided into high-risk and low-risk types according to their etiology. However, the "HPV vaccine" is not a "panacea." Injectable vaccines can protect against certain types of HPV by activating the body's immune system, but they cannot prevent all types of HPV viruses. Therefore, even if you receive the cervical cancer vaccine, it does not mean that you will not get cervical cancer.

There are currently three main types of cervical cancer vaccines known, namely bivalent vaccine, quadrivalent vaccine and nine-valent vaccine. The bivalent vaccine targets HPV subtypes 16 and 18. These two subtypes are the main subtypes that cause cervical cancer and can cover about 70% of cervical cancers. That is, the bivalent vaccine can prevent 70% of cervical cancers. The quadrivalent vaccine adds HPV6 and 11 to the bivalent vaccine, because 6 and 11 also cause 90% of genital warts. On the basis of the quadrivalent vaccine, the nine-valent vaccine covers 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58 (of which HPV52 and 58 are the most susceptible to Asians), and can prevent 90% of cervical cancer.

For women, there are two age groups for high-risk HPV infection, one is 17 to 24 years old, and the other is 40 to 44 years old. Therefore, vaccination before the age of 45 is useful, but The effect varies from person to person. The World Health Organization gives a preferred age group, which is 9 to 13 years old, before having sex.

In addition, the vaccine protection rate is not 100%. Depending on each person’s physical condition, whether they are effectively protected will vary. Sexual life is also an influencing factor in this regard. The frequency of sexual life and whether there are protective measures all have an impact on the protective effect of the HPV vaccine.

Therefore, even for vaccinated people, regular screening is still very important, so as to prevent "fish from slipping through the net". 90% of HPV infections can be cleared by the immune system. Only persistent HPV infections (continuous monitoring of the same high-risk HPV at an interval of more than one year) can lead to precancerous lesions. Regular examinations can effectively prevent the occurrence of cervical cancer.

Immunity is crucial for the rapid clearance of the HPV virus. Even if people with good physical fitness have not been vaccinated, after being infected with HPV, their immune system will quickly clear it to avoid long-lasting infection. lesions. Therefore, regular screening while strengthening one's own immunity, timely detection of precancerous lesions, timely and early intervention and treatment, and interrupting the development process of precancerous lesions to cervical cancer play a vital role in preventing the occurrence of cervical cancer.

In short, the vaccine has a protective effect, but it cannot completely prevent cervical cancer, nor can it replace the current screening, nor should we neglect protection and self-care because of this.