A Consultant Paediatrician, Prof. Ayebo Sadoh, has addressed several misconceptions on the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, and cautioned members of the public against being misinformed. Sadoh, a Professor of Paediatrics at the School of Medicine, University of Benin, debunked the numerous false claims in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Sunday.
“The vaccines are important and safe. They are safe for use,” she declared. NAN reports that the World Health Organisation describes HPV as a common sexually transmitted infection which can affect the skin, genital area and throat.
It also said that almost all sexually active people will be infected at some point in their lives, usually without symptoms, adding that in most cases, the immune system clears HPV from the body. Persistent infection with high-risk HPV can cause abnormal cells to develop, which go on to become cancer. It also said that Prophylactic vaccination against HPV and screening and treatment of pre-cancer lessons are effective strategies to prevent cervical cancer and are very cost-effective.
Cervical cancer can be cured if diagnosed at an early stage and treated promptly, it added. The world health body said that countries around the world are working to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer in the coming decades, with an agreed set of three targets to be met by 2030 “Contrary to the claims being circulated, there are over 100 strains of HPV, not just 11. The vaccine .
