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Changes to the HPV vaccine
If you were born in 1990 or 1991 then you may have missed out on the free Cervical Cancer vaccine at school. The good news is that until the end of this year you can still get the Cervical Cancer vaccine for free. So now’s a good time to talk it over with your family and check out the facts below and here.
Cervical cancer vaccine: 5 most common questions:
Q. Why do I need to get vaccinated?
A. First up, getting vaccinated is entirely up to you. The HPV vaccine immunises you against the four types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause the majority of cervical cancer and a high number of cervical abnormalities. And it’s incredibly common. As we become sexually active, 80% of us are likely to become infected with the HPV virus – and some of those who catch HPV go on to develop cervical cancer.
Often people infected with HPV don’t know they’re carriers, so they can pass the virus on without knowing. HPV is also a direct cause of genital warts, which in itself, is a pretty good reason to steer clear of HPV! (Even if you use a condom, HPV can live on the skin that a condom doesn’t cover).
Q. I’m already sexually active, will it still work on me?
A. Yes, the vaccine will still protect you against any HPV strains you haven’t been exposed to (which may be all or some). So it is worth getting even if you are sexually active!
Q. What is this vaccine and where do I get it?
A. To be fully vaccinated, you’ll need three injections in the upper arm over a period of 6 months. If you were born between 1990 and 1997 it’s available free from your doctor or health provider. If you’re in year 8, (born 1998 or 99) it is still available free through most schools, so check with your school. If not you will need to go to your doctor or health provider.
Q. What changes from 1 January 2012?
A. From 2012, if you were born in 1990 or 1991 you’ll no longer be eligible for the free immunisation programme (but you can get it from your GP or health professional for around $500 for all three doses).
If you’re in year 9 or above at school, you can get the vaccine for free from your doctor or health professional.
If you’re in year 8, your school will most likely offer the vaccination programme for free. If not, you can get the vaccination from your GP or health professional for free.
Q. It’s a new vaccine, how safe is it?
A. The HPV vaccine has been available privately since 2006 and became Government funded in 2008 for girls born after 1 January 1990. It has been tested via an extensive clinical trial programme. Like all vaccinations, The HPV vaccine works by causing the body to produce its own protection (antibodies), in this case, against HPV. In clinical trials amongst 20,000 women world-wide including New Zealand, there were a few mild side-effects including: skin reactions to the injection: soreness, redness, swelling and in some cases fever.
What we think:
Like any new product it’s really important to do your homework. We say, read up, weigh up the pros and cons and don’t be put off by a bit of short-term discomfort if it means protecting yourself against cervical cancer in later years (and genital warts!) We all have a responsibility to take care of our own bodies, do what’s right for us and give ourselves the best possible chance of living a long and healthy life. At the end of the day, the decision is yours.
Where to get more info:
www.cervicalcancervaccine.govt.nz
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yea i have to get mine done before end of december or i cant get it for free :( Posted by ang1991 "on" 10/30 "at"02:02 PM |
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I’ve had all three and it’s been fine. They don’t hurt as much as the meningitis jab. At the end of the day, this sums it up: Those who say that this immunisation is a load of rubbish are taking a bigger cancer risk then those of us who have had it. There are lots of things we do each day that we aren’t 100% sure of. Posted by PinkMunkie "on" 07/08 "at"05:49 PM |
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I still need to get the second one. Everyones gonna be sexually active one day and when it stops being free you will have to pay around $100 for each vaccination! Posted by MussoliniMetro "on" 05/26 "at"07:23 PM |
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I didn’t get it when all my friends did at school because I have a phobia of needles really badly. But I know it’s good for me so i’ll have to get it done sometime this year I think. :/ Posted by MelissaW "on" 05/16 "at"02:25 PM |
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I never got it my mum and her friends discussed it and thought it was bull. On the plus side I don’t like injections… Posted by Cassidyiscool "on" 05/08 "at"01:18 PM |
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I got it and none of my friends did because they didn’t trust it. Now they are all too old and can only get it if they pay for it and I got it for free. silly girls! Posted by suniasunshine "on" 04/21 "at"03:48 PM |
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Wish I’d had it done for free now. Now I’m a poor Uni student, sexually active and I do want to get it done, I can’t afford it! Posted by Wild1 "on" 04/04 "at"06:30 PM |
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I was born in ‘88. I have a family history of cervical cancer (and others), which makes me higher risk, but I would have to pay the excessive cost if I wanted to get the vaccine, which I would, but can’t afford. It’s ridiculous.
By the way, to put what some people are saying to rest, I have read that it is actually possible to get HPV and cervical cancer even without having been sexually active. I’d rather be safe than sorry if I could. Posted by EmeraldMaz "on" 03/25 "at"04:09 PM |
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i didnt get it because i think we throw sex around to much, if we all found it more personal and saved ourselves for the ones we love, we wouldnt have all these STI’s going around Posted by Abbie009 "on" 03/19 "at"05:36 PM |
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I got given the opportunity to have the injection at school when I was 13.But I didn’t get it coz you can only get HPV once you become sexually active. There’s not much point in getting the injection when you’re 13. You could always get it done later x Posted by BlueLavaXoX "on" 02/20 "at"04:59 PM |
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i’m not 16 yet, so i won’t need it. and anyway, my dad’s a gp (doctor), so i can get anything medical, really. Posted by yeeeah ♥ "on" 02/19 "at"07:49 PM |
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i really wish now that i had gotten those vaccines. i didnt get them done because i heard things in the newspaper and such that were saying it wasn’t effective and that it caused a lot of health problems in people :/ Posted by Miki.Manic.Mayhem "on" 02/17 "at"08:24 PM |
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I think it is really up to each person to decide if they want it or not, but in my opinion i think the injection is good cause it reduced ur chances of getting cervical cancer and 4 most its free (sorry 4 those that missed out) I’ve heard all sorts of comments about people saying that their is horrible side effects and its too risky to get it, but the truth is the risk you put yourself when you get the HPV vaccine is not very different to the risk you put yourself for any other vaccine. their is always people who are allergic to certain vaccines or have side effects to them… but this does not stop most people from getting vaccines such us for tetanus, polio etc Posted by 51220 "on" 02/17 "at"06:24 PM |
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I never got that because my mum thought it was a load of bull lol Posted by Shauna "on" 02/17 "at"04:37 PM |
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I missed out on the cut off by three days, and its over $1000 dollars to get it done yourself. Posted by Xxc0rtxX "on" 02/17 "at"11:54 AM |
Best of the rest
