The HPV vaccine was approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It can prevent most cases of cervical cancer if it is given before patients are exposed to the virus. Both boys and girls can use it.
Lately, we were witnesses to more and more media coverage that produces and promotes individual stories of people who were part of the testing. Most of the coverage regarding the vaccine is negative since stories that people tell are exclusively involving cancer and inevitable death. And we still don’t know whether they are right to do so.
IAPSOI, the Indian Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Immunization, provides recommendations for the HPV vaccine for all females from 9 years, and those aged 13-26 and haven’t yet been vaccinated.
The vaccine itself lasts at least four years. It is considered to be safe and causes no tremendous side effects. Mild side effects include soreness and redness at the injection site, dizziness, vomiting, nausea, fatigue, and headaches. It is recommended for everyone who receives it to remain seated for at least 15 minutes.
Soe says that there is a small chance that someone might still get cancer after having their HPV vaccine shots. There are many types of HPV, and the vaccine can’t protect against all of them.
Do bear in mind that there is no cure for HPV itself. Certain treatments may ease the patient’s being.
Google’s New Stories
Whoever searches new Google stories on this issue will not learn about these matters. Google’s algorithms seem to retrieve no balance between positive and negative features of the HPV vaccine. There are very few positive stories on the HPV vaccine.
I am not saying that Google should adjust their algorithms, but it remains unclear how all new results following the search of ‘cervical cancer jab’ are sensationalist and conspirative: one being Q&A for amateurs that don’t do good or harm, second is a scary story about paralysis with no information or proof to back it up, and the third one is the anti-vaccine story with no medical information whatsoever.
How to be well-informed and stay optimistic when the world’s largest search engine doesn’t provide you with balanced and informative content?
HPV information
For more information on HPV vaccine, do visit: www.NHS.uk/HPV. It is an official site, but do give it a chance.
