In Finland, children receive a vaccine to prevent cancer and its precursors free of charge.
- The national vaccination program’s HPV vaccine prevents the proliferation of cancer-causing HPV viruses.
- Self-paid HPV vaccine prevents, among other things, the occurrence of condylomas.
- HPV viruses are most often spread through sex.
One type of cancer could be completely eradicated from Finland and the number of other cancers could be reduced with a vaccine that is offered to schoolchildren for free.
The HPV vaccine is already part of the national vaccination program, but not everyone takes this vaccine. HPV is an acronym human papilloma virus.
Specialist in dermatology and venereal diseases Eija Hiltunen-Back suspects that the possibilities of the HPV vaccine included in the vaccination program have not been fully understood.
A couple of hundred human papillomaviruses are known. Some of these viruses are spread through sex, but they can also be transmitted from one person to another, for example through fingers.
Usually, the body is able to evict papillomaviruses on its own, but it is not always successful. So-called high-risk papillomaviruses can cause cancer.
HPV vaccinations that prevent cancer and their precursors are offered free of charge to all children in Finland, primarily in elementary school in the 5th-6th grade.
There are two types of HPV vaccine available in Finland. The vaccine included in the national vaccination program protects against cancer, the paid vaccine protects against condyloma. Adobe Stock / AOP
The information is distressing
If all or even almost all children took the HPV vaccine, there would be no more cervical cancer or its precursors in the future, and at the same time a few other cancers would also decrease.
In addition to the cervix, papillomaviruses that thrive on mucous membranes can also cause cancer in the head and neck areas, as well as in the areas of the penis, anus, vagina and external genitalia.
According to the website of the Institute of Health and Welfare (THL), the HPV vaccine against cancer is most effective when the vaccine is given at a young age. In this case, the papilloma virus infection has probably not yet been acquired and the body also generates better antibodies than when older.
The HPV vaccine included in the national vaccination program is effective against cancer-causing papillomaviruses, but only provides partial protection against other papillomaviruses.
These other papillomaviruses can cause other health problems, for example condyloma.
There are many types of papillomaviruses. Adobe Stock / AOP
Anxiety and shame
Some human papillomaviruses can cause genital warts, or condylomas.
Condylomas can sometimes go away on their own, but usually they can only be cured with treatment. Treatment processes are often long.
– Diagnosing condylomas clearly affects self-image. Many are anxious or ashamed to be infected. The treatments are not completely harmless either, says Hiltunen-Back.
According to estimates, more than 10,000 condyloma diagnoses are made annually.
According to Hiltunen-Back, more than half of the patients who end up in treatment for condylomas are between 20 and 30 years old.
You can also buy a vaccine that protects against the types of viruses that cause condyloma at a pharmacy. The HPV vaccine series that prevents condyloma costs around 500-600 euros.
No side effects
For example, in Australia, schoolchildren receive a broad HPV vaccine in the national vaccination program, which is effective against both cancer-causing papillomaviruses and also condyloma-causing papillomaviruses.
Hiltunen-Back says that in Australia, where HPV vaccine coverage is high, the number of condyloma diagnoses has also collapsed.
– All HPV vaccines are well researched and there is extensive experience with them, based on which it can be said that there are almost no adverse effects from the vaccine.
In the spring of 2023, 84 percent of girls and 68 percent of boys had received the HPV vaccination that prevents cancer in the age group born in 2007 who finished elementary school.
HPV vaccination coverage in Finland is lower than in other Nordic countries. One of the reasons for this is probably that HPV vaccines started to be given in Finland later than in other Nordic countries.
A question of equality
The national HPV vaccination program for girls started in Finland in 2013 and for boys in 2020.
– The more children who are vaccinated, the more children are protected. Due to equality, boys have the right to receive the same protection as girls, says Hiltunen-Back.
One of the European Union’s top cancer control projects is the elimination of cancers caused by papillomaviruses in EU member states by 2030.
This could be successful if the vaccination coverage of girls rises above 90 percent and the vaccination coverage of boys can also be increased significantly.
According to the All About Cancer website, cervical cancer is most common in women aged 30-44.
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