MONTREAL, Sept. 18, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - People of all ages should know we have a cancer prevention tool through the HPV vaccine recommended for males and females age 9 and can be given to people up into their 60's. Know that it is never too late and you are never too old to prevent and limit the damage of cancer. Quebecers should take advantage of the opportunity to have their kids vaccinated at school in grade 4 because there is a cost for almost everyone else. Visit www.hpvawareness.org for the Canadian chart of school based HPV vaccination programs as well as who is exempted from paying for this vaccine outside of these programs.
The HPV vaccine is the only way to protect yourself from getting this virus that leads to genital warts and cancers of the head and neck, tongue, throat, anus, cervix, vulva, vagina, and penis. These HPV-related cancers can take up to thirty years to surface making it that your decision to get vaccinated should not be based on your age, marital status, monogamy, nor how many partners you have gone below the waistline with protection or not over your lifetime with your mouth, hands or other body parts.
The benefits of vaccination are protection from getting HPVs that they have not already come into contact with, and if a person does have a strain of this virus, it will slow down and limit the damage being done in a person's body. The key lesson is that the younger people get vaccinated the better, because it will not take away this virus if a person already has it. For this reason, the government has put in place free HPV vaccination programs in most of the country for boys and girls in their elementary schools.
There is information circulating on the Internet with biased views and completely false allegations causing unnecessary fear and confusion about this vaccine's safety. The HPV vaccine is the only form of protection from the Human PapillomaVirus (HPV) that is highly contagious because people come into contact with this virus through any skin to skin contact below the waistline regardless of whether or not you use a condom, affecting over a staggering 75% of sexually active people.
It is irresponsible to spread messages that are not supported by proven facts. The negative publications written by Diane Harper, Geneviève Rail and Abby Lippman that are currently resurfacing on social media cause needless fear among the general population, because there is no scientific basis behind these articles' messages. Saying that the HPV vaccine is unsafe is reckless as it causes individuals to make decisions based on false information. The research of Dr. Zeev Rosberger, leading researcher in clinical health psychology, currently focuses on decision-making relating to the prevention of HPV. He says, "Most fears related to the HPV vaccine are more related to myth than reality."
The fact is the HPV vaccine is a safe and effective cancer prevention tool. Dr. Steben, Medical Director of the Clinique A and President of the Canadian Network for the Prevention of HPV says, "In the over 200 million doses administered worldwide for over a decade now, we see no serious adverse effects." He adds, "If there were any cluster of severe side effects arising from the use of the HPV vaccine, we would have known it by now. The vaccine adverse events registration at the FDA has logged thousands of reported side effects; but none have been linked to the HPV vaccine, other than the pain and swelling that comes afterwards. These minor symptoms are temporary, and can occur with almost any vaccine." Dr. Steben also adds, "Primary prevention through vaccination is always better and cheaper in the long run rather than treating this virus through genital warts breakouts and HPV-related cancer treatments later in life."
For more information about HPV and vaccination programs across Canada, visit www.hpvawareness.org.
About HPV Awareness
HPV Awareness is the only Registered Charity in Canada providing education programs in every demographic about the human papillomavirus (HPV) in the context of healthy relationships, informing people of all ages of HPV, its related cancers and its prevention methods.
About Coalition Priorité Cancer au Québec
Coalition Priorité Cancer au Québec was founded in 2001 to protect, support and give a strong voice to people affected by cancer (patients, survivors, informal caregivers, their families and their loved ones). We strive to support cancer-related community organizations, like HPV Awareness and health professionals helping in the fight against cancer across Canada. http://coalitioncancer.com/
SOURCE HPV Awareness Corporation
Amélie McFadyen, [email protected], tel: 514-214-6469
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