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Jun 2, 2010
MOH's stand on vaccination very valid
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I REFER to the report on the call for compulsory vaccination of girls aged 13 to avoid cervical cancer ("MP calls for compulsory vaccination to avoid cancer"; Friday).
The Ministry of Health's stand that we need to be careful in recommending compulsory immunisation at the national level is certainly valid.
Apart from cost, long-term safety and efficacy have to be evaluated carefully, especially if the vaccine is still relatively new.
However, it is true that few women here know that the human papilloma virus (HPV) can give rise to cervical cancer and vaccination is available to protect them against such a virus.
What is also not well-known is that a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of developing such a cancer. This includes the avoidance of multiple sexual partners, giving up smoking, cultivating healthy dietary habits and delaying the onset of sexual intercourse.
Recent reports that many Singaporean girls are engaging in sex with multiple partners at a younger age is disturbing and this would certainly increase the risk of developing cervical cancer, sexually transmitted diseases and many social problems (including unwanted pregnancies, psychological/emotional problems and the like).
Currently, a regular pap smear for sexually active women is still the mainstay in detecting early cervical cancer. Vaccination against HPV should not cause women to deem pap smears as no longer necessary, particularly when long-term immunity and efficacy is still being extensively studied and evaluated.
Dr Quek Koh Choon
MOH's stand on vaccination very valid
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<!-- end left side bar --><!-- story content : start -->
I REFER to the report on the call for compulsory vaccination of girls aged 13 to avoid cervical cancer ("MP calls for compulsory vaccination to avoid cancer"; Friday).
The Ministry of Health's stand that we need to be careful in recommending compulsory immunisation at the national level is certainly valid.
Apart from cost, long-term safety and efficacy have to be evaluated carefully, especially if the vaccine is still relatively new.
However, it is true that few women here know that the human papilloma virus (HPV) can give rise to cervical cancer and vaccination is available to protect them against such a virus.
What is also not well-known is that a healthy lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of developing such a cancer. This includes the avoidance of multiple sexual partners, giving up smoking, cultivating healthy dietary habits and delaying the onset of sexual intercourse.
Recent reports that many Singaporean girls are engaging in sex with multiple partners at a younger age is disturbing and this would certainly increase the risk of developing cervical cancer, sexually transmitted diseases and many social problems (including unwanted pregnancies, psychological/emotional problems and the like).
Currently, a regular pap smear for sexually active women is still the mainstay in detecting early cervical cancer. Vaccination against HPV should not cause women to deem pap smears as no longer necessary, particularly when long-term immunity and efficacy is still being extensively studied and evaluated.
Dr Quek Koh Choon
