According to the World Health Organisation, cervical cancer is the sixth most common cancer in women.
It is the leading cause of cancer mortality in Kenya, with an estimated 3,200 deaths in 2020.
It is also a significant global health concern, affecting millions of women worldwide.
According to WHO, Cervical cancer develops in a woman's cervix (the entrance to the uterus from the vagina).
The WHO states that in 2022, an estimated 660,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide and about 350,000 women died from the disease.
According to experts, in Kenya, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women aged 15 years to 44 years.
It is estimated that every year, 5,250 women in the country are diagnosed with the disease, and about 3,286 cervical cancer deaths occur annually.
At the same time, 10.3 million women aged 15 years and above are at risk of developing the disease.
While early detection and treatment helps, the most effective way to combat cancer is through prevention. This is where the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine plays a huge role.
What is Human Papillomavirus?
According to WHO, Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection.
Almost all sexually active people will be infected at some point in their lives, usually without symptoms.
HPV can affect the skin, genital area and throat.
“HPV usually goes away on its own without treatment. Some HPV infections cause genital warts,” WHO states.
“Others can cause abnormal cells to develop, which go on to become cancer.”
However, getting vaccinated against HPV helps prevent cervical cancer.
What you need to know about HPV vaccination
The HPV vaccine protects against genital warts and most cases of cervical cancer.
According to Mayo Clinic, it protects against cancer of the vagina, vulva, mouth, throat, head and neck cancers caused by HPV.
Mayo Clinic states that the vaccine gives the body a safe way to build immune system awareness of some HPV strains.
This means the body has an easier time clearing out those strains of the virus if a person catches them later.
Who should get the HPV vaccine?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests routine HPV vaccination at age 11 or 12.
The ideal age for vaccination is before a person is sexually active.
Once a person gets Human Papillomavirus, the vaccine may not be as effective, because the vaccine's goal is to prevent a new infection.
“If a person has the virus, the vaccine may not help the body clear out the vaccine,” the CDC states.
According to CDC, people younger than age 15 can be vaccinated with two doses, 6 to 12 months apart while people who start the vaccine series later, at ages 15 through 26, should get three doses of the vaccine.
These shots are given over six months.
What are the side effects of the HPV vaccine?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the HPV vaccine has different side effects.
These include pain, redness, or swelling in the arm where the shot was given.
Other effects are fever, headache or feeling tired, nausea and Muscle or joint pain
