HPV.jpg (Photo : Reuters)
A sizable number of women from mainland China travel to Hong Kong to get vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV), which is believed to cause cervical cancer, reported Women of China.
The women go all the way to Hong Kong for the vaccine because mainland authorities have not permitted its general use, the report said.
With the vaccine still undergoing clinical trials in the mainland, a black market for the immunizing agent has taken shape, leading citizens to be cautious even as some private hospitals in Shenzen claim what they offer is completely safe.
"There are quite a few clinics in Shenzen providing HPV vaccination service," said 25-year-old Yan Xin.
"It's more convenient for me to get it done away from home. However, I'd rather travel to Hong Kong to take the injection, where it is safer and more reliable. After all, it is an investment in personal health," she added.
"It is necessary to protect myself. I need to take responsibility for my own body," she said.
The HPV vaccine, which became popular in 2006 and adminstered in more than 100 countries, is not a cure for cervical cancer. Rather, it protects against the potent HPV strains HPV16 and HPV18, which are said to be causes for 70 percent of cervical cancer cases and precancerous cervical lesions.
While mainland women travel to Hong Kong for the vaccine, the women in the autonomous region are not inclined to take advantage of its availability.
Auhthorities said that approximately 10 percent of Hong Kong women have had themselves vaccinated against HPV, with "lack of recognition and relatively hight cost" being blamed for the small number of women availing the vaccine.
