Cervical cancer vaccine follow-up: The good and the good
In March, I wrote a blog called "Cervical Cancer Vaccine: The good, the bad and the ugly". In it I talked about an effective and safe new vaccine ("the good") to prevent contracting human papilloma virus (HPV), by far the leading cause of cervical cancer.
The "ugly" was my concern over mounting attacks on the HPV vaccine by those who inisisted it would encourage teens to have sex - to my mind a dubious and dangerous assertion (e.g., in a recent study of virgins, only 7-10% said "fear of a sexually transmitted disease" was a reason not to have sex).
Take a look at the blog and especially the fascinating, provocative debate that followed in the comments.
Dr. P's fears were unfounded
I'm pleased to report my concerns of an effective opposition to this valuable new vaccine were unfounded. Yes, Dr. P was wrong (hey, it happens). In a tribute to good sense, on 6/29/06 the influential Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) unanimously endorsed the use of the HPV vaccine.
This is a very important step. The ACIP advises the Center for Disease Control (CDC), which in turn advises schools. Since the CDC has no enforcement powers, it will be up to insurers to agree to pay for the $125-a-dose, three dose vaccine. And it will be up to school districts and colleges to decide whether to require or just recommend it. (I hope it's required. We know that immunizations not required for school attendance are given much less frequently.)
Keep your ears open as to how this plays out and the debate that is sure to follow.
Who should get the HPV vaccine?
The HPV vaccine is currently recommended for:
All girls ages 11 and 12 (although it can be given as early as 9 years). All girls/women ages 13-26 who have not had the vaccine. Women with abnormal pap smears, genital warts, or certain other conditions.
It obviously makes sense for boys to also get the vaccine, to lessen the incidence of genital warts, to lessen the rare associated risk of penile cancer, and to lessen the risk of sexual transmission of the HPV virus (males often have no symptoms and don't even know they carry - and therefore can spread - the virus).
Immunizing males is in the works but, unfortunately, efficacy and safety studies in boys won't be completed until 2008, so we'll have to wait until then.
How many lives will this save?
Every year about 4,000 women in the US (and 300,000 internationally) die from cervical cancer. These are heartbreaking statistics represent real people: our moms, some of you, our friends and, without this new vaccine, someday our daughters. Happily, we can expect to see these numbers plummet over the next decades, as fewer and fewer women contract HPV because of this vaccine.
In my career I've seen the virtual elimination of some horrible viral and bacterial infections because of new immunizations. One fine day I anticipate gynecologists will give historical talks to their younger colleagues about the bad old forgotten days of cervical cancer, because it will be seen so rarely. Rare as hen's teeth. How great will that be?
Medical science and immunizations march on. This is such a wonderful development. Score another one for the good guys and for us all.
Related Topics: Adult Immunizations: Are You Protected?, WebMD Video: Cervical Cancer Vaccine: What Women Need To Know
Technorati Tags:HPV, Gardasil, cervical cancer vaccine
The "ugly" was my concern over mounting attacks on the HPV vaccine by those who inisisted it would encourage teens to have sex - to my mind a dubious and dangerous assertion (e.g., in a recent study of virgins, only 7-10% said "fear of a sexually transmitted disease" was a reason not to have sex).
Take a look at the blog and especially the fascinating, provocative debate that followed in the comments.
*****************************************
Dr. P's fears were unfounded
I'm pleased to report my concerns of an effective opposition to this valuable new vaccine were unfounded. Yes, Dr. P was wrong (hey, it happens). In a tribute to good sense, on 6/29/06 the influential Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) unanimously endorsed the use of the HPV vaccine.
This is a very important step. The ACIP advises the Center for Disease Control (CDC), which in turn advises schools. Since the CDC has no enforcement powers, it will be up to insurers to agree to pay for the $125-a-dose, three dose vaccine. And it will be up to school districts and colleges to decide whether to require or just recommend it. (I hope it's required. We know that immunizations not required for school attendance are given much less frequently.)
Keep your ears open as to how this plays out and the debate that is sure to follow.
******************************************
Who should get the HPV vaccine?
The HPV vaccine is currently recommended for:
It obviously makes sense for boys to also get the vaccine, to lessen the incidence of genital warts, to lessen the rare associated risk of penile cancer, and to lessen the risk of sexual transmission of the HPV virus (males often have no symptoms and don't even know they carry - and therefore can spread - the virus).
Immunizing males is in the works but, unfortunately, efficacy and safety studies in boys won't be completed until 2008, so we'll have to wait until then.
How many lives will this save?
Every year about 4,000 women in the US (and 300,000 internationally) die from cervical cancer. These are heartbreaking statistics represent real people: our moms, some of you, our friends and, without this new vaccine, someday our daughters. Happily, we can expect to see these numbers plummet over the next decades, as fewer and fewer women contract HPV because of this vaccine.
*****************************************
In my career I've seen the virtual elimination of some horrible viral and bacterial infections because of new immunizations. One fine day I anticipate gynecologists will give historical talks to their younger colleagues about the bad old forgotten days of cervical cancer, because it will be seen so rarely. Rare as hen's teeth. How great will that be?
Medical science and immunizations march on. This is such a wonderful development. Score another one for the good guys and for us all.
Related Topics: Adult Immunizations: Are You Protected?, WebMD Video: Cervical Cancer Vaccine: What Women Need To Know
Technorati Tags:HPV, Gardasil, cervical cancer vaccine
9 Comments:
This spring, my husband turned to me and said, "We should make sure our daughters both get this vaccine."
A few minutes later, he asked me if I wanted it too and was surprised when I told him I was already saving up for it.
Please keep in mind, folks, that states buy vaccines for the most part. I, for one, do not buy vaccines that are not bought and paid for by my state. Massachusetts decides which vaccines it will pay for and which it will not. So for example, they give me Pediarix, Hib, PCV-7, MMR, DTaP, TdaP, Varivax, small amounts of Menactra and Fluzone.
They do not give me Rotateq, Hep A vaccines, FluMist and Gardasil.
Bloggers like Dr. Parker and Vince Ianelli at Ask.com are writing checks that your pediatrician cannot neccessarily cash. I really wish you wouldn't do that.
best,
Flea
Now back to the subject at hand, that is, sex:
Even if sexual union were 100% medically safe, it would remain dangerous activity for the emotional, and spiritual life of a child.
Parents, if you truly want to protect your children, explain to them why delay of gratification is a good thing.
best,
Flea
Here is a good question... if you have been previously diagnosed with HPV and it is now silent then should you get the vaccine to prevent it from coming back?
Just curious...has anyone heard about the new developments in cervical cancer screening? Apparently, the pap smear could potentially be made MUCH more accurate by this new product system developed by a company called CytoCore. One of their products is a cell collector tool (called the e2 collector) that has an inflatable balloon on the end that expands to take cell samples from ALL over the cervix (as opposed to the current method of scraping bits and pieces). This will allow identification of HPV and cervical cancer to be much easier to obtain. If you're interested, check it out at www.molecular-dx.com. I think the vaccine is great, but for those of us who already need check ups, I find this new method intresting and intriguing.
Has anyone done any work with Gardasil for patients who have RRP (Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis) which is formed from HPV? I have Type 11 and have surgeries 3 - 4 times a year to remove them from my vocal chords. I would be MORE than willing to add this to the regimen of surgeries to see what progress is COULD make.
Excuse me but isn't anyone concerned that not once in any of these ads do they mention that HPV is a sexually transmitted disease and CAN be prevented? They portray that HPV "just happens". Unlike breast cancer or other cancers that just happen, HPV can be prevented. Abstinance. Oh yea and why are women/girls singled out to receive the vaccine while men/boys have no responsibility but can continue to spread the virus.
There is a lot of great info on this web site: http://www.ashastd.org/hpv/hpv_learn.cfm
For example:
Nearly 3 out of 4 Americans between ages 15-49 have been infected w/ genital HPV in their lifetime. HPV can be contracted from one partner, remain dormant, and then later be unknowingly transmitted to another sexual partner, including a spouse. This virus is often asymptomatic -- people usually don't know they have it. There is no specific way to test directly for HPV in men.
How come the large majority of US men are circumcised under the pretext that this will protect their female partners from cervical cancer and still so many US women get HPV?
Has anybody an explanation?
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