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As a routine inoculation of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, a bivalent or quadrivalent vaccine has been implemented for girls from the 6th grade of elementary school to the 1st grade of high school. A new 9-valent vaccine will be added from April. The HPV vaccine is basically given three times, but the 9-valent vaccine allows two doses only for those under the age of 15, reducing the burden. The 9-valent vaccine is more effective than the 2- and 4-valent vaccines, and is expected to reduce the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is a cancer that forms at the entrance of the uterus, and there are almost no subjective symptoms in the early stages, but as it progresses, abnormal vaginal discharge, irregular bleeding, and pain in the lower abdomen appear. It affects 11,000 women and causes about 2,900 deaths each year. Patients start increasing in their 20s, and by their 30s, about 1,000 people a year lose their uterus due to treatment. It is primarily caused by HPV infection through sexual contact, with more than 50% of sexually active women having the chance to become infected at least once in their lifetime, most of which are eliminated spontaneously, but some It continues to infect and becomes cancerous. There are at least 15 types of HPV that have a high risk of causing cancer. The HPV vaccines already routinely administered include a bivalent vaccine that prevents infection with two types (types 16 and 18), which account for 50 to 70% of cancer causes, and a condyloma acuminatum, which is a sexually transmitted disease. There is a quadrivalent vaccine that adds two types (types 6 and 11) that cause Girls from the 6th grade of elementary school to the 1st grade of high school are eligible for routine vaccination, and the basics are 3 doses in half a year.

This time, the 9-valent vaccine newly added to the routine vaccination was approved in 2020, and in addition to the 4-valent type, there are 5 types (types 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58). It is also effective in preventing 80-90% of the causative viruses. In addition, in the routine immunization starting in April, the number of vaccinations for children under the age of 15 will be changed from 3 to 2. (The second vaccination should be given at least 6 months after the first.) This reduces the physical burden of vaccination. As for the frequency of adverse reactions, symptoms such as pain at the injection site are more common than with the quadrivalent vaccine, but systemic symptoms are reported to be about the same. Until now, it cost about 100,000 yen because the entire amount was paid by yourself, but from April, it will be received free of charge at public expense.

Bivalent and quadrivalent HPV vaccines were withheld from active recommendation in June 2013 because various symptoms such as pain in a wide range of the body were reported after the routine vaccination in April 2013. However, since then, active recommendations have been resumed from 2022, as no association between various symptoms and vaccination has been confirmed. For this reason, women born between April 2, 1997 and April 1, 2006 who missed the opportunity to be vaccinated will receive a catch-up vaccination at public expense (free of charge) until March 2025.

In addition to HPV vaccination, cervical cancer prevention includes cervical cancer screening. The surface of the entrance of the uterus is lightly rubbed with a brush or the like to collect cells to check for precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. Examine you.

If you wish to receive the HPV vaccine, we recommend that you search for information about your local government using keywords such as "〇〇 city, HPV vaccination."