What are the precautions and contraindications for cervical cancer vaccination?

Before cervical cancer vaccination, attention should be paid to health status assessment and contraindication screening. The main contraindications include allergies to vaccine components, pregnancy or acute infection, etc. Precautions for vaccination mainly include consulting a doctor before vaccination, avoiding taboo periods, observing for 30 minutes after vaccination, avoiding strenuous exercise and paying attention to local reactions, etc. Contraindications mainly include severe immunodeficiency, high fever disease, coagulation dysfunction, and severe adverse reactions to previous vaccinations with similar vaccines.

1. Pre-vaccination consultation

It is recommended that you inform your doctor in detail about your allergy history, pregnancy status, and current medication before vaccination. Doctors will evaluate whether there is a possibility of allergies to vaccine components. For example, people with yeast protein allergies are prohibited from using the nine-valent vaccine. Those who are taking immunosuppressants or chemotherapy drugs need to postpone vaccination. Breast-feeding women are advised to make decisions after fully weighing the pros and cons.

2. Avoid taboo periods

Vaccination should be postponed when the body temperature exceeds 38.5°C for acute febrile illness. Patients with thrombocytopenia or those with severe bleeding tendencies need to be carefully evaluated. Vaccination should be avoided during pregnancy. If pregnancy is found after vaccination, there is no need to terminate the pregnancy, but subsequent doses need to be suspended. Those who develop angioedema or anaphylactic shock after previous vaccination are prohibited from being vaccinated again.

3. Observe after vaccination

After vaccination, you need to be observed in a medical institution for 30 minutes to deal with possible immediate allergic reactions. Common local reactions such as redness, swelling and pain can be relieved by themselves, and physical cooling can be done when the body temperature does not exceed 38.5°C. Severe headache, difficulty breathing, or persistent high fever require immediate medical attention. It is recommended to avoid lifting heavy objects on the upper limb of the vaccinated side for 24 hours.

4. Exercise restrictions

Strenuous exercise should be avoided for 48 hours after vaccination to prevent aggravation of local reactions. There are no restrictions on daily activities, but you need to pay attention to rest. People with low immunity can postpone their fitness plan. It is recommended to postpone water activities such as swimming for 1-2 days to prevent infection at the injection site. Travel plans should avoid long-distance travel within 3 days after vaccination.

5. Taboos for special groups of people

When the CD4 count of HIV-infected patients is lower than 200/μL, the vaccination effect may be reduced. Individualized evaluation is required for patients taking anti-rejection drugs after organ transplantation. People with a history of Guillain-Barré syndrome should be cautious. People who have been infected with HPV types 16α-18α can still be vaccinated to prevent other types of infection, but they need to inform their doctor about their medical history.

After completing the full course of vaccination, you still need to undergo regular cervical cancer screening because the vaccine cannot cover all high-risk HPV types. During the vaccination period, you should maintain a balanced diet, appropriately increase foods rich in vitamin A and vitamin E such as carrots, nuts, etc., and avoid alcoholism and excessive fatigue. If you have persistent fever or suppuration at the injection site, you need to seek medical attention promptly. Comprehensive preventive measures such as hand hygiene and safe sex are recommended, and all women should undergo cervical cytology every 3 years starting at the age of 25 years.