Free Vaccination Program!
Posted April 2nd, 2009 in Perth WA, Ume's Interests 2 Comments »
Did you know that the Australian Government is offering free HPV vaccination to women aged 18-26 years of age through general practitioners till 30 June 2009? If you are a woman between the ages you won’t wanna miss this out.
“HPV (human papillomavirus) is a common virus that infects the skin and mucous membranes. There are about 100 types of HPV. Approximately 30 of those are spread through genital contact (typically sexual intercourse). There are around 12 – called “low-risk” types of HPV, and approximately 15 “high-risk” types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer. Infection with the most common types of “genital” HPV can be prevented with the HPV vaccine.”
<from The HPV Test>
According to the website the vaccine lasts at least five years, and it’s given as a series of three shots over a six-month period; after the first shot, the woman needs to return two and six months later. To get the full benefit of the vaccine, all three shots must be given.
I think this is a good chance for women to get some protection for cervical cancer, and hope the aim of this program – the reduction in incidence of cervical cancer in Australia – succeeds.
I’m getting one too. Just ask your GP for more info! 🙂
Email: 
Hey, have you got the jab yet? If so, don’t get it yet!! It’s free right now, but they don’t know the long term side effects (only short term).
Also, I’m not sure if the American roll out of the HPV jab is using the same method and vaccine as ours, but Americans have reported some real problems with their cervical cancer jab after deployment.
Unfortunately for me, I only heard and read about it after getting my first jab – so I was like, “Oh no!” Now, I’m not saying that it doesn’t work… just that there are better methods of preventing cervical cancer and the risk of HPV. But I’ll save my spiel for the email, if you’re interested to know more.
Angie,
Thank you for the story! I’ll search about this vaccine little more…