The Human Papillomavirus is spread from skin contact and mucus membranes from someone who probably doesn’t know they’re infected.
The Jackson County Health Department will be hosting an HPV Vaccination Health Fair Tuesday February 26 from 3 to 6 pm.
According to the CDC 80% of the population will have contact with one of the over 150 related strains of the virus during their life.
Normally HPV goes away on its own unnoticed, except for less than a dozen strains that will cause health problems including cancer.
Jackson County Health department director of nursing Karen Brown says its important to get the vaccine early before someone is exposed to HPV.
“The vaccine is centered around those 9 most common strains that actually cause the disease.”
The health department is offering this opportunity to learn more about, HPV and how it infects 14 million new people yearly and how to protect yourself.
The recommended age to receive the vaccine is 11 to 26 because over 50% of the HPV cases occur in the 15 to 24 years old range.
“The younger they are when they get the vaccine it can build the immunity prior to any exposure to the body.”
Nurses will be on hand to answer questions and dispense vaccines.
For WSIU I’m Benjy Jeffords
The HVP vaccine health fair runs from 3 to 6 pm.
If you want more information go to their website www.jchdonline.org
