Proof Everyone Should Get The HPV Vaccine

Proof Everyone Should Get The HPV Vaccine Human papillomavirus is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the U.S., affecting 79 million Americans. It can cause genital warts and lead to multiple cancers, including cervical cancer. There are two HPV vaccines approved for use in the U.S., HPV2, which protects against cancer-causing HPV-16 and -18 strains, and HPV4, which protects against those strains as well HPV-6 and -11, which can cause genital warts. The first vaccine was approved for use in the U.S. in 2006, and the Centers for Disease Control recommended that girls begin the three-dose vaccine course at ages 11-12, though many doctors say two doses is also effective in preventing infection. They began recommending the same for boys in 2011. Though the vaccines have been proven safe and effective in preventing HPV infection, the U.S. continues to have a low vaccination rate compared with other developed countries such as Australia and the U.K. Many Cancers And Genital Warts Are Overwhelmingly Caused By HPV Percent of cancer cases probably caused by HPV, according to the CDC* I Approximate percent of cases caused by HPV-16 and HPV-18, which are covered by both the HPV2 and HPV4 vaccines Cervical 70% 91% Vulvar 40% 69% Anal 80% 91% Oropharyngeal 65% 72% Vaginal 60% 75% Penile 46% 63% *Cancer registries do not routinely collect data on whether HPV is in cancer tissue, but CDC studies using population-based data have estimated the percentage of cancers probably caused by HPV. Percent of genital warts cases caused by vaccine-preventable strains of HPV 90% Vaccination Coverage Is Low In Every State D.C. Estimated percent of adolescent girls ages 13-17 years who had received at least three doses of either the HPV2 or HPV4 vaccine, 2012* <20% 20.1%-25% 25.1%-30% 30.1%-35% 35.1%-40% 40.1%-45% 45.1%-50% >50% *Public health officials began recommending that all 11- or 12-year old girls get the full series (3 doses) of the HPV vaccine in 2006, and began recommending the same for boys in 2011. Vaccination Coverage Is Lowest In The South, Which Also Has The Highest Cervical Cancer Rate U.S. Vaccination Rates Lag Behind Other Countries Estimated percent of adolescents in the U.S. ages 13-17 years who had received at least three doses of either the HPV2 or HPV4 The median onset age for cervical cancer vaccine recipients turn 34 this year, but lower vaccination coverage for adolescent girls in the South now may contribute to a higher cervical cancer rate in the future. The South currently has the highest cervical cancer rate of any region in the U.S., as well as higher rates of HIV infection, and other sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia. 49, while the oldest vaccine, 2012* Estimated percent of adolescent girls ages 13-17 years who had received at least three doses of either the HPV2 or HPV4 vaccine, 2012 regional averages Boys: 6.8% Girls: 33.4% 50% 43.8% 40% 35.3% 33% 31.4% 30% 20% In 2011, Rwanda began vaccinating girls in primary grade six. 93.23% of the In the U.K., 86% of the target age group (12- to 13- year-old girls) had received the full HPV vaccination In 2010, vaccine coverage rates for 12-year old girls, the target age for HPV vaccination in Australia, reached 10% target group received all three doses of 0% South Midwest West Northeast the vaccine, course in 2013. 73%. The HPV Vaccine Is Safe And Effective HPV prevalence among sexually active females ages 14-19 years, vaccinated and unvaccinated over 6 years Percent change in prevalence between 2003-2006 and 2007- 2010 among sexually active females ages 14–19 years, overall 2003- 2006 56 million 2007- Approximate number of doses of HPV4 distributed in the U.S. from June 2006 through March 2013 2010 High-risk non-vaccine types* Vaccine 33.5% Prevalence overall: 29.1% High-risk - types* non-vaccine types* 19.4% Prevalence among unvaccinated: 12.6% Vaccine -13% types* 21,194 Number of adverse Prevalence among vaccinated: 3.1% reactions reported over the same time period, 92.1% were classified as nonserious "Vaccine types consist of HPV-6, -11, -16, and -18. High-risk non-vaccine types consist of HPV-31, -33, -35, -39, -45, -51, -52, -56, -58, -59, -66, and -68. -53% Sources: Centers for Disease Control, Journal of Infectious Diseases, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, American Dental Assocation, International Journal of Cancer, World Health Organization, New York Times, Public Health England THE HUFFINGTON POST