The hpv vaccine

What is a HPV vaccine?

A HPV vaccine protects against 70-90% of high-risk HPV strains that can lead to cervical cancer. The vaccine is most helpful when given before one starts any sexual activity.

Even if you already have HPV, you should still get the vaccine to prevent reinfection and to protect against other high-risk strains. 

Even if you have the HPV vaccine, it is still important to go for regular pap smears. 

Vaccine efficacy

HPV vaccines offer 90% protection against high-risk HPV infections covered by the strains listed by each vaccine. However none provide 100% coverage and none cover all the 100+ strains of HPV. Thus it is still important to go for regular pap smears to identify HPV infections not covered by vaccines. 

What is Gardisil 9?

The Gardisil 9 vaccine is available to women and men from ages 9 through 45. Some doctors will tell you it's for men and women up to the age of 26 however there is new research showing that people benefit from the vaccine up to the age of 45.

Gardisil 9 works against 9 strains of high-risk HPV: 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58. It helps protect against diseases caused by these 9 strains including cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancers in females, and anal cancer, certain head and neck cancers, and genital warts in both males and females. 

Gardisil 9 is a shot given in the arm muscle. It is typically given in two or three shots. Please consult your doctor for your inoculation schedule. 

Is Gardisil 9 right for you?

Anyone who is severely allergic to yeast may not be a good candidate for the vaccine. Please consult your doctor if this condition applies to you. 

Getting the vaccine in Singapore

In Singapore, there are three types of HPV vaccines commonly available, although I covered Gardisil 9 is greater detail above because it is the most comprehensive vaccine and available to a broader age group. 

Besides Gardisil 9, Singapore offers two other vaccine types: Gardisil (without the 9) and Cervarix. For more details on Gardisil and Cervarix, including the recommended vaccination schedule, please see this paper by the Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology of Singapore: https://www.sccps.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SCCPS-Scientific-Committee-Position-Paper-on-HPV-Vaccination-Final.pdf  

Learn about where you can go to receive the HPV vaccine in Singapore here. 

Resources: 

https://www.gardasil9.com/adults/

https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/701/faqs-on-hpv-and-hpv-immunis

https://www.sccps.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SCCPS-Scientific-Committee-Position-Paper-on-HPV-Vaccination-Final.pdf