Doctors in Singapore would like to
see more girls and young women
getting a vaccine that can drastically
cut their risk of getting cancer of
the cervix.
Doctors in Singapore would like to
see more girls and young women
getting a vaccine that can drastically
cut their risk of getting cancer of
the cervix.
The two vaccines on the local market
can prevent more than 70 per
cent of cervical cancers. Because of
their efficacy, the Ministry of
Health (MOH) allows people to use
Medisave to pay for the injections.
In the past two years, close to
10,000 people a year have used
Medisave to offset the cost of the
jabs, a ministry spokesman said.
Both vaccines – Cervarix and
Gardasil – offer protection against
two major strains of the human
papillomavirus (HPV), which cause
about 70 per cent of cervical
cancers. Type 16 is responsible for
53.5 per cent and type 18 causes 17.2
per cent of cervical cancers, said Associate
Professor Jeffrey Low, head
and senior consultant at the Division
of Gynaecologic Oncology at
the National University Cancer Institute,
Singapore.
Both vaccines protect against
types 16 and 18 although Gardasil
also covers types 6 and 11, which are
responsible for 90 per cent of the
cases of genital warts.
“In terms of efficacy against types
16 and 18 HPV, Gardasil and Cervarix
are both equally effective,” said
Prof Low.
Dr Timothy Lim, head and senior
consultant at the Department of
Gynaecological Oncology at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital,
said that while the vaccines are
recommended for females aged
nine to 26, they should be given
before the age of 16, when immunological
response is robust.
“The chances of a woman being
infected by both HPV types 16 and
18 increases with age, and the ability
of an individual to produce an immunological
response to a vaccine
wanes with age,” added Dr Lim.
Nonetheless, women who are
already vaccinated should still go
for regular screening.
Sexually active women should
have a pap smear from age 25, and
should repeat it at least once every
three years until 65, said Dr Lim.
Human resource manager He
Qing Pei, 26, who took the Gardasil
vaccine about five years ago, said
that being vaccinated makes her
feel more reassured.
“But I also understand that it is
not foolproof and that we should
still get checks once every few
years,” she added.
