I can't remember the name exactly, but I heard of a vaccine for women between the ages of 16-25. Anyone have any idea where I could get this and whether or not age really matters?
If it's the one for HPV (a cause of cervical cancer), it is called Gardasil, and is manufactured by Merck. It can, apparently, be used for girls as young as 9.
Any GP will have it, 3 injection sin total. In HK it is recommanded starting from 9, however age does not matter, what does is that the patient did not have any type of sexual interraction in order to make sure she is protected before she had had a risk to be in presence of HPV.
The vaccine you refer to is most probably the HPV vaccine. This is the new anti cancer vaccine preventing an infection with the Human Papilloma Virus which is responsible for cervical cancer.
It is preferably given before you become sexually active when the virus may already have been transmitted and vaccination is pointless. We thus recommend it to young teenagers.
Matilda Health Centre - 2849 1500
Matilda Medical Centre, Central 2537 8500
Matilda International Hospital
Hong Kong http://www.matilda.org
Chiki, it is not pointless, as you may have not been in contact with HPV before (without mentioning there are several strains of HPV and some do not initiate cervical cancer): in such case, I would not recommand to get the vaccina by a general practitioner, but by a gynecologist (the doctor can first make a pap smear and test you for HPV to check for infection/antibodies).
I know this thread seems pretty old, but I was wondering if anyone knew any other hospital/clinic that offers the HPV vaccine Gardasil besides the one mentioned here.
I've had the first two injections in Canada, and I need to get the last one still! I want to get it as soon as I can, but the hospital recommended here (Matilda) is really out of the way for me.
Any hospitals or clinics on the Kowloon side that offer Gardasil?