Ask the Expert
Fitness Q & A Health
Terea Giannetta, DNP, RN, CPNP, answers your questions
Why must my child receive the HPV vaccine if she’s not sexually active?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes most cervical cancers, as well as cancers of the area in and around the vagina. Two vaccines are available to prevent these types of viruses from grow- ing in the body and causing cancer later in life. These vaccines need to be given before a person is sexually active, as HPV is a common virus passed from one person to another through direct skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity. Most people will get this virus sometime in their lives and not even know it. Each year about 12,000 women are
96
diagnosed with cervical cancer, and about 4,000 women in the U.S. die from it. Cervical cancer is the second lead- ing cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide. The
vaccines available are recommended for boys and girls 11 to 12 years of age. They may be given as early as age 9 and as late as age 26. Research has shown that the vaccines work best if there has never been exposure to the virus, so getting vaccinated when the
body is healthy and ready to respond to vaccines is better at younger ages. The vaccines can be given with other vaccines, so any catch-up vaccines that are needed at the time can be given as well. This is a three- shot series, which your health care provider can
www.readysetgrowmag.com
HPV vaccines are recommended for boys and girls 11 to 12 years of age
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108