(MENAFN- The Peninsula) fazeena saleem |
The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar: Qatar has taken a significant stride in combating cervical cancer and related warts. The Ministry of Public health (MoPH) recently included the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among the list of approved vaccines in the country as an optional vaccine.
The HPV vaccine approved by the MoPH guards against nine strains of HPV, responsible for nearly 95% of cervical cancer cases and approximately 90% of genital warts, said Director of the Department of Health Promotions and Communicable Diseases Country at the Ministry, Dr Hamad Eid Al Rumaihi.
Thus, getting the HPV vaccine helps protect men and women against several types of cancer and warts caused by the virus, he said in an interview with The Peninsula.
“HPV vaccine prevents the infection with the most high-risk serotypes of the virus with all the possible complications. The most important protection is against cervical cancer, which causes the death of a woman every minute globally and every hour regionally. So, we encourage people to take the vaccine and give it to their children,” said Dr. Al Rumaihi.
“Also, people with HPV can pass the infection to others without knowing it as, in many cases, it has no symptoms, and by taking the vaccine, you protect yourself and others in the community. It is important to note that the HPV vaccine prevents HPV infection, which, once contracted, cannot be treated,” he added.
HPV is a group of viruses with more than 150 serotypes. It is responsible for various types of cancers and other conditions. The HPV vaccine will protect several virus serotypes with a high risk of complications.
People up to 45 years old are in the high-risk group of contracting HPV and mainly benefit from the vaccine. However, the HPV vaccine works better when received at a younger age than in older age groups. The vaccine is being offered at the Health Centres of Primary Health Care (PHCC) and the Corporation and Communicable Disease Center (CDC).
“The primary target of the HPV vaccine is girls and boys aged 11-26 years. However, it can be given from the age of 9 years and up to 45 years, depending on a risk assessment by the physician,” said Dr. Al Rumaihi.
“For the age group 9-14 years, the vaccine will be given in a two doses series, and for teens and young adults of 15-26 years, it will be given in three doses,” he added.
In reply to a question on the safety of the HPV vaccine, Dr. Al Rumaihi said that the HPV vaccine is not new and has been given to millions of people in the world for many years now and has proven to be safe and effective at preventing HPV-related infections and related cancers.
However, he said,“Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects. Many people who get the HPV vaccine have no side effects at all. The most common side effects are usually mild, like a sore arm from the shot.”
Dr. Al Rumaihi also said there is a good level of awareness about the HPV vaccine in the country, and the campaign started by the MoPH in May intends to increase awareness about the critical vaccine in the community.
“We noted a good uptake, and people are asking for it,” he said.
As part of the awareness campaign, MoPH has published messages and videos addressing the importance of the HPV vaccine to all members of society; messages were spread in Arabic and English through various social media platforms, newspapers, and TV interviews.
MoPH has also created informative leaflets about the disease and ways to prevent it and distributed guidelines for all healthcare personnel.