Before taking cervical cancer vaccine, these "side effects" you must know in advance!

Nowadays, the relevant science on cervical cancer and HPV vaccines is becoming more and more popular, and many women are paying more and more attention to the screening and prevention of cervical cancer. But as the popularity of the HPV vaccine continues to rise, some rumors and questions about the "side effects" of the vaccine have also followed.

For example, after the HPV vaccine, there will be irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, premature ovarian failure, fever, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and headache, etc., and even paralyzed and die, resulting in many girls being frightened to retreat, or some people have side effects after the first injection, and they dare not go to the second injection because of fear.

(Source: Network)

To be clear, we need to look at the side effects of vaccines scientifically, and not use such individual cases as "myself" or "around me" and "I hear" as a basis for judgment. So regarding the side effects of hpvide vaccine and some mitigation methods, it is recommended that every female friend who is ready to be vaccinated should understand it.

It has to be said that any vaccine has "side effects", which are called adverse reactions in medicine. Just like any drug label written on it, due to individual differences, some people may have some bad reactions after using the drug. The same is true of vaccines.

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Adverse reactions caused by HPV vaccination are generally divided into local adverse reactions and systemic adverse reactions[1].

Local adverse reactions: mainly rash, swelling, pain, itching, induration, bleeding, hematoma or photosensitivity reaction at the vaccination site.

Systemic adverse reactions: fever, headache, fatigue, cough, muscle pain, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, vomiting and other common. Occasionally, hypersensitivity reactions, allergic dermatitis, rashes, vertigo, pruritus, etc. are seen.

Serious adverse events were reported: thrombosis, seizures, Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, multiple encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, and death [2].

But more than 270 million doses of HPV vaccine have been distributed worldwide since the vaccine was licensed in 2006[3], and over the years, many agencies, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), have closely regulated the use of HPV vaccines and reviewed the serious adverse effects described above.

After reviewing a large body of research data, the WHO Global Information Committee on Vaccine Safety made it clear in a statement issued in 2017 that there was no evidence of any link between HPV vaccination and these diseases. Vaccinations before these serious adverse events are more like a coincidence [3].

The CDC also said that there is no evidence that the HPV vaccine causes fertility problems [4].

Seeing this, some female friends may think that the HPV vaccine has so many adverse reactions, and they are afraid! But in fact, these side effects are not common, we take the instructions for the nine-valent vaccine [1] as an example, according to the frequency of adverse reactions from high to low:

Very common (≥10%): headache, pain, swelling, erythema, etc.;

Common (1%-10%, including 1%): fever, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, diarrhea, itching, bruising, etc.;

Occasionally (0.1%-1%, including 0.1%): lymphadenopathy, dizziness, abdominal pain, vomiting, syncope, hematoma, induration, chills, gastroenteritis, influenza, limb pain, dysmenorrhea, urticaria, allergies, lumps, etc.;

Rare (0.01%-0.1%, containing 0.01%): unlabeled;

Very rare (0.01% <): unlabeled.

The occurrence and extent of adverse reactions varies from person to person and is not always present. Some female friends have no adverse reactions when they get the first injection, but they may also have adverse reactions when they get the second or third injection.

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pain

Pain at the injection site is the most common and is due to normal reactions caused by intramuscular injections, generally mild and tolerable. If there is pain outside the injection site, such as limb pain, muscle pain, skin pain, joint pain, migraine, etc., you should give feedback to the vaccination unit in time and seek medical advice.

syncope

Since the probability of syncope after vaccination (including but not limited to HPV vaccine) is about 0.2% [1], which may lead to fall injury, it is generally recommended to stay in your seat for 30 minutes after vaccination to avoid the injury caused by syncope. According to who research, syncope may be a reaction to anxiety or stress in injectors [3], so don't be overly nervous when vaccinating.

anaphylaxis

Vaccinators with a history of allergies should inform the medical staff in detail before vaccination, and extend the observation time if necessary. In the event of severe allergic reactions, such as systemic urticaria, angioedema, wheezing, and dyspnea, you should seek medical attention in a timely manner [5]. And after that, the same vaccine is no longer injected.

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fever

No special treatment is required at no more than 38.5 °C, and antipyretic drugs can be taken above 38.5 °C to increase the amount of water consumed. If the fever persists, be sure to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Nausea, vomiting

May occur alone or with flu-like symptoms such as fever, dizziness, chills, and fatigue. Proper rest and a light diet are recommended.

Menstrual disorders

There is no evidence that menstrual disorders, amenorrhea, etc. are directly related to vaccination. If a menstrual disorder occurs after vaccination, a gynecological examination is sufficient as usual.

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It can be seen that most people have mild to moderate adverse reactions after HPV vaccination, and can be alleviated in the short term, and do not have to choose not to vaccinate HPV vaccine because of fear of adverse reactions. It is recommended that you pay attention to rest after vaccination, avoid fatigue, and if the adverse reactions only increase after 1-2 days of observation, seek advice from the vaccination unit in time or go directly to the hospital.

Review expert: Deng Sheng | Chief Pharmacist, Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University

bibliography

[1] Product Information: GARDASIL(R) 9 intramuscular injection, human papillomavirus 9-valent vaccine, recombinant intramuscular injection. Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. (per FDA), Whitehouse Station, NJ, 2015.

[2] HPV vaccine safety,www.nhs.uk

*The content of this article is a popularization of health knowledge and cannot be used as a specific diagnosis and treatment recommendation, nor is it a substitute for face-to-face consultation by a practicing physician, for reference only.

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