HPV jab over age 45

[Idontpostmuch]

Have already posted about this, but posted again to let more people see it. On other sites, but never MN, I've come across posters saying they wish they could have this vaccination and are frustrated to find clinics won't vaccinate women older than 45. So I just want to say that there are clinics without an upper age limit, and I've recently had my second of 3 injections. I've had them at Hampstead Heath Pharmacy. Good transport links. Pharmacy is opposite overground station and there's a tube station 15 mins' walk away. Very quick. Both times I was taken early and was out again in less than 5 mins. You just pay one jab at a time. When you book there's a £25 deposit which is deducted from the jab cost when you pay after each appointment. Standard is 3 jabs at 3 month intervals but there's a 2 jab option if you want to spend less. Cost per jab £180. Health form to complete online before each appointment. System will keep reminding you even after completion but this can be ignored. I can't help with deciding whether vaccination is worth having and amn't interested in debating the pros and cons, but if you're one of the people who wants it, I hope the above is useful.

But what's the point when you'll almost certainly have already been exposed to the virus by that age?

You'd have to ask the people that feel they would like it, if indeed you come across any of them.

I’m one of the people that believes it could be valuable, in certain circumstances and particularly if you get divorced after a long relationship at that age and become sexually active with new partners. By 45 you will probably have been exposed to some strains of HPV from previous partners and the vaccine won’t protect you from reactivation of those strains, which could happen at any age. However it can protect you from infection from any strains that you have not previously been exposed to or reinfection of a prior strain. That seems worthwhile to me, given that the extreme worst case scenario is cervical cancer but other possibilities are herpes or cell abnormalities that need to be burned off with a hot wire.

Why would I ask 'them' when it's you who's promoting it on your post?

I'm asking a genuine question.

If 80% of sexually active adults will have had contact with it, how effective would the vaccine be to those aged 45?

Thank you @Idontpostmuch this is worthwhile to know. It's true that there can't be many women who reach their 40s/50s uninfected but it is possible.

Thanks OP. I got my second jab done a few weeks ago, I suspect one of your previous posts might have influenced me. I'm 46 and fibbed about my age (by one year) as I was worried they might not be willing to do it, so that is an option although perhaps might meet disapproval. I went to a London branch of a national chain of pharmacies. They do 2 jabs as standard so that's it for me, it's interesting that other pharmacies do 3 jabs as standard.

For me I decided it was worthwhile getting it as I want to reduce my risk of certain diseases, and I'm fortunate that the cost doesn't put me off and it was fairly convenient and not on-going, so there was not much reason not to.

I've already said I'm not going to discuss it so a waste of your time asking me. I'm not promoting it, but rather sharing the information I have for the benefit of those who know they would like it. I'm promoting one particular pharmacy, not the vaccination itself. I think it's better than the other London pharmacy that offers the same thing.

Isn't it the case that a lot of vaccines don't work as well on older people (regardless of exposure)? As in I'm sure we got told at work that certain vaccines were only offered to under 30s because they only worked well on young people. Maybe that's not right and they just didn't want to give them.

I did some research during the pandemic on this after receiving a positive smear test (no abnormal cells detected) and decided in my mid 50s to get the HPV vaccinations for a few reasons in no particular order...

1. I have HIV which although well controlled can increase risk of cancer due to HPV
2. I was hoping to have a new relationship (maybe more than one) and being older they would not have been vaccinated, so potential for contracting/re-contractng high risk strains (it is unknown if strains always remain in or might be cleared by the body). With aging immune function can weaken.
3. After discussing this with a gynae cancer charity and also my GP they thought it a good idea.
4. There were studies at the time to see if having the vaccination helped lessen the risk of current infection progressing - not sure if they ever completed, however women with CIN3 were being offered it.
5. There are well over 150 strains of HPV, of which about 14 could lead to cancer. The vaccine (Gardasil 9) protects against 9 strains that cause about 90% of cervical cancers. Being genetically linked this might give protection against strains not included in the vaccine.
6. I have not had that many different partners so might not have been exposed to all the high risks strains (the 2 I do have are not those that cause the majority of cervical cancer)
7. I weighed up the cost and stress factor between act now or watch and wait.

Ok why are you promoting a pharmacy? You're not meant to put adverts up disguised as OPs.

It's a waste of your time refusing to answer basic questions about the efficacy of a vaccine you've written an OP about.

Thanks to all who have responded positively, either by posting or reaction. Just want to add that there is another London pharmacy where they do geriatric jabbing - I love the alliteration 😃. Probably more, for all I know. I can't remember where it is, but I remember they had some case studies to help with decisions over whether to vaccinate. Hidden away in website though, not all that easy to find. My reason for not choosing that place was simply that there was an implication that there would be a consultation to discuss suitability first. Of course, a lot of the time these things are no more than a formality, but I preferred the ease of just going along to Hampstead with certainty that my journey wouldn't be wasted. A civic minded pp has kindly pointed out that I've inadvertently broken some MN rule (who on earth reads the rules!) and so my thread will probably be taken down. Poster is concerned I may have wasted my time. I don't feel that in the least - plenty time for many women to see it first. Said poster also asked my advice re jab efficacy. I'm not going to give any, because I'm not medically qualified. Thanks to those of you who have shared information on this side of things. I'm sure she will be grateful and, more to the point, so will others who read your posts. I will however say one thing: it's correct that 80% of women are infected with HPV. Yet this figure includes all strains. Approx 50% of infections are high risk, but no figures are available which relate purely to high risk strains. I'll finish by saying how heartening it is that in this instance ageism hasn't entirely won. Best Wishes to all of you.