Human papillomavirus vaccine effectiveness and implementation

Nursing

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine

Cervical cancer was once the leading claim on the lives of American women than any other type of cancer. Fortunately over the last 40 years, widespread cervical cancer screening using the Pap test and treatment of pre-cancerous cervical irregularities have resulted in a significant reduction in cervical cancer cases (HPV Vaccine Information for Clinicians, 2008).

In June of 2006 the FDA approved the first HPV vaccine. Even though the vaccine is being called the cervical cancer vaccine the vaccine only protects against the two strains of HPV that cause most cases of cervical cancer. Since there are 11 other strains that are also potentially cancer causing women will still need to get regular Pap smears to prevent the consequences of the disease (Boskey, 2007).

HPV is a very common sexually transmitted virus across the United States. Most sexually active people will be exposed to one or more strains of the virus at some point during their lives. Up to a quarter of people in any particular age group are infected at any one time across the country. The virus is so common that exposure is essentially certain. It is thought that if you are sexually active, you will be exposed to the virus. Even consistent condom use is no guarantee of protection, since the virus is transmitted skin to skin, and condoms only protect the areas of skin that they cover (Boskey, 2007).

There are approximately 20 million people currently infected with genital human papillomavirus (HPV). As many as half of those infected are adolescents and young adults who range in age from 15 to 24. HPV is so common that it is thought that most sexually active adults will become infected at some point in their lives. Of the more than 40 types of HPV that infect human mucosal surfaces, most infections are asymptomatic and transient, which makes the spread even easier (HPV Vaccine Information for Clinicians, 2008).

The HPV vaccine is routinely recommended for girls who are 11 and 12 years old. The vaccine series can be started as early as age 9. A catch-up vaccination is recommended for 13 through 26-year-old females who have not yet received or completed the vaccine series. Preferably, females should be vaccinated before onset of sexual activity. Sexually active females may also benefit from vaccination since there are very few young women are infected with all four HPV types that are targeted by the vaccine. Females who already have been infected with one or more HPV types would still get protection from the vaccine types they have not yet been exposed to. At the present time there is no test available for clinical use to determine whether a female has had any or all of the four HPV types targeted by the vaccine (HPV Vaccine Information for Clinicians, 2008).

The only way to prevent the spread of HPV and reduce the amount of cervical cancer cases that exist is to make the HPV vaccination mandatory. Those who argue against making the vaccination mandatory often claim that providing the vaccine will encourage promiscuity. This was the same argument that was used when schools started providing condoms. Providing condoms in schools has conclusively been shown not to encourage kids to have sex and it is unlikely that giving them some shots for a disease that most of them aren't even worried about will (Boskey, 2007).