Staff Writer
The fight against cervical cancer and associated warts has advanced significantly in Qatar. The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has most recently been added by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) to the list of approved vaccinations in the nation as an optional vaccine.
According to Dr. Hamad Eid Al Rumaihi, director of the Department of Health Promotions and Communicable Diseases Country at the Ministry, the MoPH-approved HPV vaccine protects against nine HPV strains that are thought to be responsible for 90% of genital warts and nearly 95% of cases of cervical cancer.
Thus, he explained in an interview with The Peninsula, receiving the HPV vaccine helps protect both men and women against various cancers and warts brought on by the virus.
“HPV vaccination prevents infection with the virus’s most dangerous serotypes and all associated sequelae. The most crucial defense is against cervical cancer, which kills a woman globally every minute and locally every hour. So, Dr. Al Rumaihi remarked, “We advise individuals to get the vaccine and offer it to their kids.
Additionally, since HPV frequently has no symptoms, persons with the illness might spread it to others without realizing it. By getting the vaccine, you can protect both yourself and others in your community. It is crucial to remember that the HPV vaccine prevents HPV infection, which cannot be cured after it has been acquired.
More than 150 different viral serotypes make up the HPV virus group. It is to blame for a number of cancers and other illnesses. Several virus serotypes with a high risk of problems will be protected by the HPV vaccine.
The vaccine primarily protects those who are up to 45 years old and in the high-risk group for developing HPV. The HPV vaccine, however, functions better in younger age groups than in older age groups. The Corporation and Communicable Disease Center (CDC) and the Health Centres of Primary Health Care (PHCC) both provide the vaccine.
The HPV vaccine is primarily intended for girls and boys between the ages of 11 and 26. However, it can be administered starting at age 9 and continuing to age 45, subject to the doctor’s risk assessment, according to Dr. Al Rumaihi.
“The vaccine will be given in a two-dose series for children aged 9 to 14 years, and in a three-dose series for adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 26 years,” he continued.
Dr. Al Rumaihi responded to a query on the safety of the HPV vaccine by stating that it is not a recent development and has been administered to millions of individuals worldwide for many years, and has shown to be both safe and effective at preventing HPV-related diseases illnesses and associated malignancies.
But as with any medication, he added, “vaccines might have negative effects. Many HPV vaccine recipients experience no negative effects at all. Mild side effects, like a sore arm from the shot, are typically the most frequent.
The MoPH’s campaign, which was launched in May, aims to raise community knowledge of the important vaccine, according to Dr. Al Rumaihi, who also noted that there is a good level of awareness of the HPV vaccine in the nation.
People are asking for it, we had a good uptake, he said.
The MoPH has released messages and videos as part of the awareness campaign that emphasize the value of the HPV vaccine for every member of society. The messages were disseminated in Arabic and English through various social media platforms, newspapers, and TV interviews.
The MoPH has also provided instructions for all medical staff and developed informational pamphlets on the illness and how to prevent it.
