Germany to lead the way in cervical cancer vaccine

In Germany, the Standing Commission for Vaccination is recommending that all girls between the ages of 12 and 17 be vaccinated against the Human papilloma virus which causes precancerous and cancerous lesions. About 70 per cent of cervical tumours are caused by the papilloma 16 and papilloma 17 viruses.

Some three million teenage girls in Germany are to be urged to take part in a mass vaccination campaign to help to stamp out cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer kills around 17,000 women a year in industrialised countries which, thanks to systematic smear tests, is significantly lower than the 218,000 victims in developing nations. Despite relatively low death rates in the West, German doctors say mass vaccination should be deployed.

I think this is a bloody good idea, and one which should be followed across Europe. The course of three injections, costing €150 (about £100) each could mark the beginning of the end of the smear test.

Here is the article from the Times: Cervical cancer jabs for girls of 12

12 to 17 may be to late. 8 to 11 would be more preemptive and beneficial.

Germany leads the way? From the Times article above, we see that within Europe, Austria's further along, as are some US states - not just recommending, but compulsory vaccinations:

Apparently 2/3 of sexually active adulty have HPV.

€150? Ah great... Women over 18 will have to pay for the vaccination themselves... I guess it is a better choice than risking cervical cancer though...

Edit: I just researched a little, and it is actually €150 per shot, and you need three shots to be vaccinated, so that is a good €500 for the entire deal.

2/3 of sexually active adult have had contact with the virus (numbers vary depending on the study)- but most of the infections will go away within a couple of years without treatment. So if you meet someone "sexually active", the risk of him/her being a carrier is actually lower than 2/3. They never know, as there is no routine test for HPV, they only test you once you have cellular abnormalities (smear test).

It's not sure yet whether the vaccine might also help to get rid of a persistent infection.

I think they also should study the vaccine on men. They can get genital warts like women (but those strains are not cancerogenic) can get penis cancer (rare) or throat cancer (even more rare ... from oral activities...) from the virus, and of course they can always transmit the virus.

and, a second brand of the vaccine will probably get approved this year, so might be interesting how much it will cost.

This vaccination is already popular in the U.S...I myself have had it.

Damn expensive though...3 rounds of injections at $250 a pop (in the US at least)!

But considering that they estimate that, at any given time, 26.8% of women aged 14 to 59 were infected with at least one strain of HPV (the main cause of cervical cancer in women), it's definitely worth it.

Note: @ zee...they ARE sure that the vaccine will NOT cure an existing infection, it will only protect against future ones.

I talked about this with my doctor today; she said, that 80% of all HPV infections the immune system can deal with on its own, and a regular pap smear will help notice any changes on the cervix... She thinks it is an unnecessary immunization for sexually active women.

Also, what is up with everyone being pregnant?! I was the only patient there who was not pregnant!

I Know! I stopped drinking the water, I am sure there is something in the water in Germany at the moment.

That doctor is an idiot. The one and only time that it is unnecessary is after you have already been exposed. That is why it is hugely important to vaccinate girls early and early means before 11 years old and most definitely before they become sexually active.

For a sexually active woman it is very likely she has already been exposed. And that obviously the immune system got rid of the virus by itself. The question was not whether it makes sense for 11 year old girls to get vaccinated.

Wow, I actually agree with eurovol. Mariposa, the other 20% of HPV viruses your body won't be able to deal with, and then you're in for a lifetime of monitoring and paps to make sure it won't develop into cervical cancer. Why not? It's the same cost of buying a fun pair of shoes - and it's about your health!

I am certainly getting this vaccine when I go home.

There are several strains of HPV...the chances that the woman has been exposed to EVERY strain are slim to none. And even if you have one strain, the vaccine will protect you against all the others.

Your doctor was extremely irresponsible to tell you that.

The immunization would not replace paps anyway though! This vaccine is only for certain types of the HPV virus, not all kinds.

I have never bought a pair of shoes for €500. €500 is more than what I have available to pay for food and bills every month.

Mariposa, it's simply ridiculous to argue that this vaccine is not worth the money. And insurance will cover it in many cases anyway. So the only question left is, why WOULDN't you want to get it?

And the fact that your doctor told you it was unnecessary makes me think twice about going to a german gynecologist.

My insurance doesn't cover it (along with all gesetzliche Versicherungen). They only cover it if you are under 18. I am not. I personally can't afford it, simple as that.

Alright Mariposa, then don't get the shot. I would personally save up for it as I think this is a great vaccine and I think it's worth it.

Regardless of what your doctor thinks.

but you should be doing that anyways, I hope this vaccine is not giving women a false sense of security and forgetting their yearly check ups.

well said, RRH...mariposa: if you can't afford it, fine, don't get it. but don't argue that's it's unnecessary when that obviously is not the case.

Sorry Carm, I didn't mean you don't have to get paps or anything! I would still do that annually, with or without the vaccine.

Is there alot of research done on women over 40 and the useage? I am skeptical of this, as I go regularily for my check up, and smear, and I am not sure if it offers the same protection as a young girl.

No, it wasn't researched for women over 26 actually, but they are currently researching another vaccine for women over 26, which will have another name (this one is Gardasil).

Edit: Cervarix is the one for women between 26 and 55.

HPV is not curable. The immune system cannot just "get rid of it" because it is intranuclear extrachromosomal DNA that replicates with the cell. At this point, it is believed that the best the immune system can do is suppress it or that it goes into a latency stage much like Herpes does.
There are many many types and the vaccine will only stop the most dangerous types, but not all.

an aside question about Gynaecologists in Germany... I went and got a full check-up back in January, paid for it in February when the bill arrived. But nobody has contacted me since.

Is this normal for Germany? Do doctors get in touch only if there's something wrong, or am I supposed to chase them for results? Its not that I need them, they were all general screens etc. I know I should just phone them, but to be honest I've just been busy and didn't think about it until now - TT is the lazy person's solution to all life problems!

By the way, according to http://www.krebsinformationsdienst.de the Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss will decide on whether it will be included in the gesetzliche Krankenkassen program for women up to 26 by June 30th.
If it was included, I would definitely get it, until then I will wait.

Your immune system works the same way no matter your age. You can get the immunization and then have a titer test done to check your response level. You can also have cervical cells tested now via PCR for virus specific DNA. The technology is there and standardized so use it to your advantage.

Mine only contacts me if something is off about the results, so I have never been contacted by them either.

good stuff, thanks Mariposa.

well it also depends on your sexual behaviour whether you think it's necessary. no sex, no infection condoms do not protect 100%, but considerably reduce the risk.

just have a shower after doing it, and you will be fine. it washes away once you do it quick enough.

My grandfather used moonshine after strange encounters.

was it the strange encounters that occured after the moonshine, or the strange encounters that caused the moonshine drinking?

What is this vaccine called here in Germany? I want to know what to ask for at the Drs.

HPV Impfung or Gardasil.

Thanks!

Just to clarify -- tho this is a bit repetitive - the virus never leaves your body - 2/3 of sex.active adults have it, even if they haven't had an outbreak in years. I guess without an outbreak, it spreads less easily (kind of like herpes). The vaccine only works if you don't have it yet. And of the women who have HPV, no one knows which ones are at risk or not for cervical cancer, so ALL of them should be having pap smears twice a year.

Keep in mind also, however, that HPV isn't the worst thing you can get from unprotected sex - so until there's a vaccine for HIV, I'd go for the vaccine AND condoms.

I think this is the vaccine the Australian government is offering for free for all women who are under 26 and who are out of high school, until the year 2009. Quite nice of the govt. i think