The immunizer, recently launched in Brazil, offers coverage against nine subtypes of the virus
Since April of this year, a new vaccine against HPV (human papillomavirus) has become available in private networks: the Gardasil 9developed by MSD Pharmaceuticals.
According to Dr Christian Meirelles, pediatric infectologist and medical director at Beep Saúde, this new immunizer has a significant advantage over what is applied in the Unified Health System (SUS). This because provides protection against nine types of HPV (6,11,16,18,31,33,45, 52 and 58), while the previous version is effective in preventing infections caused by only four of them (6,11,16 and 18).
“Although the new one has more complete coverage, the version available on the public network is also effective in fighting the disease. The important thing, therefore, is to get vaccinated. Vaccination should start as early as possibleeven before the onset of sexual life, for both girls and boys“, warns the doctor, who also claims that the novel vaccine is recommended for people aged 9 to 45 years.
The importance of HPV vaccination
Data from Febrasgo (Brazilian Federation of Gynecological and Obstetrics Associations) indicate that HPV is a very common sexually transmitted infection, with approximately 91% of men and 84% of women suffering from this problem at a certain point in their life.
It is important to underline that affected individuals do not always present symptoms, especially in the initial stage. However, the pathogen can lead to the appearance of warts in the genital region and other serious complications, such as cervical cancer, which is mainly associated with subtypes 16 and 18.
Therefore, vaccination is essential to increase the body’s protective barrier, as it helps in prevention of HPV contamination and its consequencesincluding virus-related cancers.
“In case of Gardasil 9, help prevent cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina and anus; precancerous or dysplastic lesions; genital warts and persistent infections caused by 9 types of human papillomavirus”, comments the specialist.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
