Free vaccine helps reduce HPV

Young people are being urge to get a free HPV vaccination. File photo.

Young people across the Bay of Plenty are being urged to ensure they are protected from a common virus that can cause some cancers.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation is now available for both males and females, aged 16-26, in the Bay of Plenty.

It's free and helps to protect against HPV, a group of very common viruses that infect about four out of five people at some time in their lives. HPV causes cells to grow abnormally and over time can lead to cancer.

HPV causes almost all cervical cancer and several other cancers that affect both men and women.

'The vaccine is safe, very good at preventing HPV infection, and at reducing the HPV-related cancer risks for young people into the future, says Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service medical officer Dr Jim Miller.

'My advice is that you take this chance, and choose to reduce your cancer risk for the future. Make an appointment today with your doctor to get your free HPV immunisation.”

While most HPV infections are benign, causing warts on areas of the body including the hands, feet and genitals, there are certain strains that put a person at a higher risk of developing certain types of cancers.

HPV is a common and highly contagious infection that can affect your skin, cervix, anus, mouth and throat.

The strains of HPV, which cause a person to develop warts, are not the same group of HPV strains that cause cancer. The strains of HPV known to cause genital warts are low-risk HPV 6 and 11, while the strains of HPV associated with cancer include high-risk HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58.

HPV is a virus which is passed skin-to-skin through sexual intercourse or other forms of skin-to-skin contact of the genitals.

HPV can infect anyone who is or has ever been sexually active, and sometimes the most infected individuals are asymptomatic, meaning they display no symptoms of the virus.

Find out more hereand here.

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