I just got my HPV vaccine at 23, here’s what you need to know.
What is HPV | Vaccine Information | Procedure | Costs | FAQ
Before starting Shy, I had never thought about getting a HPV vaccine. The more I learnt about sexual health and wellness during this 1.5 year journey, the more I understood the risks of not doing so, eventually leading me to do my HPV vaccination.
While I have friends whose parents brought them to get HPV vaccinated earlier in their teens, I also know of some parents (like mine) who hold “traditional” reservations - worries about it leading to more promiscuous behaviour, or simply being unnecessary because “my kid won’t have sex before marriage”.
Perspectives aside, let’s get educated about the science behind HPV, and why vaccinations might make sense for some of us!
What is HPV and why do I need a vaccine?
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common virus that anyone can contract
HPV can be transmitted via: Skin-to-skin (especially genital) contact such as during sexual activity, by sharing contaminated sex toys and very rarely, during delivery from an infected mother to her baby
HPV has over a hundred different “strains”. Some of these strains can infect your body and lead to cancers including cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancer
The common misconception is that only females can contract the virus, which isn’t true!
Getting vaccinated against HPV is more encouraged (and subsidised) for women in Singapore because even though HPV can infect males as well, it less commonly leads to penile and anal cancer
Because 70% of cervical cancers and pre-cancerous cervical lesions can be attributed to HPV (types 16 and 18), getting HPV vaccinated can significantly reduce your risk of getting cervical cancer
Who should get vaccinated for HPV?
As any gender can contract HPV, technically everyone should get vaccinated. However it is more strongly recommended for females due to the higher health risks it possesses.
Recommended for females aged 9 to 26 years old depending on the specific vaccine requested
These vaccines are most effective before exposure to HPV (i.e. before your first sexual contact), so getting vaccinated earlier is always better!
As mentioned, some of my friends took their HPV vaccinations as teenagers because their mothers brought them. Looking back, I wish my mother had thought about this earlier too!
This makes sense as a parent because you never know when your child will start exploring sexual relations with people and getting vaccinated only after you start becoming sexually active with someone who carries the disease renders the vaccination technically ineffective.
What are the available HPV vaccines in Singapore?
The vaccines approved for use in Singapore are Cervarix, Gardasil and Gardasil 9. Each of them protect against different “strains” or subtypes — more details can be found in the table at the end of this article!
I got the Gardasil vaccine which can be fully claimed using Medisave. Details of the vaccinations are shown in the table below.
Where do I get a HPV vaccination in Singapore?
You can get HPV vaccinations at a polyclinic, GP clinic or any medical clinic which carries the HPV vaccine.
I got mine at Asia Health Partners at Lucky Plaza - a clinic one of my friends recommended - where the HPV vaccination is fully claimable via Medisave.
Note that this place has a surcharge on weekends so do it on weekdays if possible!
What is the procedure like?
For Gardasil, there are 3 injections to take to complete the full course. The second injection is done 2 months after the first injection, and the third one a further 6 months later. During each appointment, 1 injection is administered - making it a super quick process!
Costs of a HPV Vaccination in Singapore
Here are the rough prices for some of the more commonly frequented clinics:
From April 2019, all 13-year-old girls in Singapore (citizens and PRs) can get the HPV vaccine for free. You can use up to $500 of your Medisave to pay for the HPV vaccine, but only for Cervarix and Gardasil 4. Mine was $385.20 after GST.
Why is Gardasil 9 not eligible for MediSave?
Even though Gardisil 9 affords the most protection, it is not covered under MediSave at all. This left me a little confused since it is the “safest” option most people should take and you can’t “top up” what the other vaccines lack in the future as they are all in one concoction. Upon further googling, I found some information online that helped me understand this a little better:
According to an MOH resource, Cervarix and Gardasil are currently recommended under the national immunisation schedules for use in females between the ages of nine and 26 years. Cervarix and Gardasil protect against HPV infection from two of the most common cervical cancer-causing HPV types (16 and 18), which account for about 70 percent of cervical cancer cases, and have been shown to be both clinically and cost-effective in the local setting. Currently, at the price proposed by the manufacturer, Gardasil 9 is not cost-effective compared with alternative HPV vaccines and has thus not been included under the national immunisation schedules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the vaccination more painful than normal?
Most of us have taken flu vaccinations in our lifetime, and I would say that the pain felt during the HPV vaccine is comparable to that experienced while taking a flu jab - nothing too unbearable!
Fun fact:
When I was taking my flu vaccination last year, I asked the doctor why it hurts more than getting my blood drawn (almost painless) which was also a procedure that involved a needle entering my skin. He said that vaccinations involve injecting the liquid into your muscles, causing it to hurt slightly as the liquid squeezes itself into your tissues.
How else can I keep my sexual health in check?
Females:
Regardless of being sexually active or not, females should go for a Pap Smear once every three years (if you are between 25 to 29 years old) or HPV test once every five years (if you are 30 years and above)
Cervical cancer can be caused by other HPV subtypes which the vaccines do not protect against. In other words, the HPV vaccines do not protect against all cancer-causing HPV subtypes. As such, regular screening is still your best protection against cervical cancer.
Males: Prostate cancer is the 3rd most common cancer amongst Singaporean men and its risk increases with age. Males are recommended to get the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test every 2 to 3 years to check for prostate cancer after the age of 50.
After my own research and vaccination, how do I feel about all of this now? I hope that more people will understand how important an HPV vaccination is, and that we’ll do it for our kids earlier in the future. Otherwise, I hope you learned something through my experience and research — get vaccinated if you’re not yet!
References:
https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/701/faqs-on-hpv-and-hpv-immunisation
https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/human-papillomavirus-(hpv)-and-cervical-cancer