Last updated on September 27th, 2020 at 11:14 am
The HPV quadrivalent vaccine, also known as Gardasil (or Silgard in Europe) prevents infection by the human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted disease. The vaccine specifically targets subtypes 16 and 18, that cause not only approximately 70% of cervical cancers, but also they cause most HPV-induced anal (95% linked to HPV), vulvar (50% linked), vaginal (65% linked), oropharyngeal (60% linked) and penile (35% linked) cancers. It also targets HPV6 and HPV11, which account for approximately 90% of external genital warts. The viruses are generally passed through genital contact, almost always as a result of vaginal, oral and anal sex.
The HPV vaccine has been shown to be extraordinarily safe in two different and large epidemiological studies, one with over 700,000 doses and the other with over 350,000 doses. The absolute safety of the HPV vaccine is not in question except by those who engage in logical fallacies and anecdote.
In a recent study published in the journal Vaccine, researchers examined the HPV 16/18 infection rate in a randomized group of 4,178 young women, aged 16-24 years who were undergoing screening in community health services in the United Kingdom.
One of the key results was that in the group of 16-18 years, where the HPV infection rate dropped from 17.6% in a survey done prior to the introduction of the vaccine down to 6.6% post-vaccination. This group also showed the highest HPV immunization coverage, about 65%.
The authors concluded that:
[infobox icon=”quote-left”]These findings are the first indication that the national HPV immunisation programme is successfully preventing HPV 16/18 infection in sexually active young women in England. The reductions seen suggest, for the estimated coverage, high vaccine effectiveness and some herd-protection benefits.[/infobox]
These results mirror a study which established the substantial and dramatic drop in HPV infections after the release of the HPV vaccine in the United States. We can only conclude that the HPV vaccines caused a significant reduction in HPV incidence in UK and the USA. The HPV vaccine is effective.
The HPV vaccine is safe. The HPV vaccine prevents the HPV infection. And preventing HPV infections stop 60-95% of some serious and dangerous cancers and other annoyances such as penis pimples. Why is the decision to vaccinate with Gardasil even under discussion? Once again, here is scientific evidence that a vaccine saves lives.
Key citations:
- Arnheim-Dahlström L, Pasternak B, Svanström H, Sparén P, Hviid A. Autoimmune, neurological, and venous thromboembolic adverse events after immunisation of adolescent girls with quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine in Denmark and Sweden: cohort study. BMJ 2013 Oct;347:f5906 doi: 10.1136/bmj.f5906. Impact factor=17.215.
- Camenga DR, Dunne EF, Desai MM, Gee J, Markowitz LE, Desiliva A, Klein NP. Incidence of genital warts in adolescents and young adults in an integrated health care delivery system in the United States before human papillomavirus vaccine recommendations. Sex Transm Dis. 2013 Jul;40(7):534-8. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3182953ce0. PubMed PMID: 23965766. Impact factor=2.594.
- Klein NP, Hansen J, Chao C, Velicer C, Emery M, Slezak J, Lewis N, Deosaransingh K, Sy L, Ackerson B, Cheetham TC, Liaw KL, Takhar H, Jacobsen SJ. Safety of quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine administered routinely to females. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2012 Dec;166(12):1140-8. doi: 10.1001/archpediatrics.2012.1451. PubMed PMID: 23027469. Impact factor=4.140.
- Mesher D, Soldan K, Howell-Jones R, Panwar K, Manyenga P, Jit M, Beddows S, Gill ON. Reduction in HPV 16/18 prevalence in sexually active young women following the introduction of HPV immunisation in England. Vaccine. 2013 Nov 5. doi:pii: S0264-410X(13)01492-8. 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.10.085. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 24211166. Impact factor=3.492
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