Childhood Immunizations that Affect Sexual Health

By: Hannah Forrestal

            A common, and valid, first concern when talking about childhood immunizations that affect sexual health questions why an infant or even an 11-year-old child should be concerned with such a subject. This can be answered, however, through acknowledging the fact that adolescents are sexually active. Importantly, statistics demonstrate that 70% of adolescents experience their first sexual encounter before the age of 18 (Cavazos-Rehg et al., 2009). These numbers indicate that adolescents should be well protected against sexual diseases that may have long-term negative health complications.

            Childhood immunizations that affect sexual health include the human papillomavirus (HPV), Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis A vaccines (ASHA, 2023). The HPV vaccination is recommended for all 11–12-year-old youth (ASHA, 2023). The vaccine creates the strongest immune response at this age, which explains why the recommendation begins in the preteen years. Furthermore, the vaccine is recommended for young adults up until the age of 26 at which point the recommendation is rendered null as most people have been exposed to the virus (ASHA, 2023). The Hepatitis A and B vaccines are given at the start of life and throughout childhood to prevent long-lasting disease (ASHA, 2023).

            All three of these diseases remain stubbornly present across populations today. HPV will infect at least 85% of people throughout their lifetime (CDC, 2023a). The disease is responsible for causing cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancer in women and penis cancer in men (CDC, 2023a). Furthermore, HPV may cause genital warts along with rectal, nasal, and throat cancer in both men and women (CDC, 2023a). The creation of the HPV vaccine has substantially decreased these negative health complications. For example, the occurrence of genital warts and HPV cancers has decreased 88% in teen girls following the creation of the HPV vaccine (CDC, 2023a). Hepatitis A and B are serious liver diseases that present with both acute and chronic manifestations (CDC, 2023b). After receiving the Hepatitis A and B vaccines most people are immune for life (CDC, 2023b).

            A recurrent question surrounding vaccines is whether or not the immunization is safe. The adverse effects observed with the HPV vaccine include fatigue, muscle pain, and headache for a short period of time following injection (Jørgensen et al., 2020). A few cases of fainting and allergic reaction were noted from the vaccine, but these findings proved consistent with most other medical interventions (Jørgensen et al., 2020). These rare complications are accounted for by having the patient remain in office up to 15 minutes following injection (ASHA, 2023). Should an unlikely adverse reaction of this magnitude occur, the patient would be properly tended to by medical personnel in office. Both the Hepatitis A and B vaccines have demonstrated similar adverse effect profiles, with the most common side effect proving to be soreness at the injection site that dissipates within 1-2 days post immunization (ASHA, 2023).

            The vaccines that protect children from sexual diseases are safe, effective, and vital in the prevention of serious health complications. In the spirit of national immunization month this August, ask your healthcare provider about these vaccinations and discuss any questions you may have surrounding the subject. The healthcare of our populous depends on open, respectful communication while discussing these complex health topics.

References

American Sexual Health Association (ASHA). (2023). Vaccines. https://www.ashasexualhealth.org/vaccines/

Cavazos-Rehg, P. A., Krauss, M. J., Spitznagel, E. L., Schootman, M., Bucholz, K. K., Peipert, J. F., Sanders-Thompson, V., Cottler, L. B., & Bierut, L. J. (2009). Age of sexual debut among US adolescents. Contraception, 80(2), 158–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2009.02.014

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2023a). Reasons to get HPV vaccine. https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/parents/vaccine/six-reasons.html#:~:text=All%20children%20ages%2011%E2%80%9312,some%20time%20in%20their%20life.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2023a). Hepatitis B vaccine: what you need to know. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/hep-b.html

Jørgensen, L., Gøtzsche, P.C. & Jefferson, T. (2020). Benefits and harms of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines: systematic review with meta-analyses of trial data from clinical study reports. Syst Rev, 9(43) https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-019-0983-y