HPV: An Equal Opportunity STD

Cancer is something that freaks most people out. Who would want to get cancer? So a simple treatment that might prevent you from getting cancer is definitely a good thing. There are two vaccines currently on the market that claim to do just that. Gardasil, made by Merck, and Cervarix, made by GlaxoSmithKline, are vaccines that protect against four strains of HPV (human papilloma virus), including the two that are currently suspected to cause two thirds of all cervical cancers. However, there are some concerns about how these vaccines are being used.

The two vaccines are both meant to be used primarily by females, to prevent them from getting the two types of HPV that are most likely to lead to cervical cancer. The curious thing is that they are mainly marketing the vaccine to girls. Since HPV is spread through sexual activity, why are we only vaccinating one of the partners? If we vaccinate both men and women, we can prevent these strains from being spread to those who are not vaccinated, and prevent more cases of cancer or genital warts, which are also caused by this virus. Even though only women can get cervical cancer, which is the most dangerous complication of HPV, men still benefit from not having genital warts, or penile cancer which are linked to HPV.

With the obvious benefits of the vaccines, some states, including Texas and Virginia, have moved to require all girls to have the vaccine as a requirement for attending public schools. But the vaccines are expensive, with each of the three doses needed costing about $100. The state would cover the costs for those who are not insured, but it is still expensive enough to make cash strapped families think twice before seeking it for their daughters. These vaccines are also relatively new, and we don’t know how long the protection will last. If we vaccinate girls at 11, what happens if the immunity wears off in ten years, when they are in the age group with the highest incidence of HPV? There are other ways to prevent an infection, such as using condoms, reducing the number of partners, or practicing abstinence. Most HPV infections clear up on their own, and the risk of getting cancer is very low to begin with, even though HPV is the single most common STD. For right now, it is a better idea for these vaccines to remain voluntary, for both boys and girls, so that we have a chance to find out what the side effects really are, before we require this vaccine for an entire generation.

http://health.nytimes.com/ref/health/healthguide/esn-cervicalcancer-ess.html

http://www.cwhn.ca/PDF/CWHN_HPVjuly30.pdf

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/29/us/29vaccine.html?_r=1&hpw