Young adults in Flevoland can again be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV). This vaccination protects against six types of cancer that can be caused by the virus. The GGD Flevoland expects many young women and men to have themselves injected in the coming weeks.
“It protects you, as it were, against terrible diseases,” says doctor Madjid Hosseinnia. The virus most commonly causes cervical cancer. HPV can also cause other cancers, such as cancers of the anus, penis, vagina, labia, and in the mouth and throat.
Second round
Women who are now between the ages of 19 and 27 have had the opportunity to get vaccinated as children. Turnout was about 50 percent at the time. Hosseinnia: “They were allowed to make a decision in consultation with their parents. Now they are responsible for the decision themselves.” Boys have never had the chance to get vaccinated.
More is also known about the vaccination at the moment. “Of course we also have our information as a result of all that monitoring,” said Hosseinnia. An abnormality is found in a smear test in about six thousand women. According to doctor Madjid Hosseinnia, this is a precursor of cancer and vaccination has a positive effect.
In Flevoland, approximately 35,000 young people are eligible for the vaccination. Anyone who falls into this group has been notified by letter. This week the first thousand will be injected. Young people who do fall into the age category but have not received a letter can also schedule an appointment online with the GGD.
