HPV and it’s Controversial Vaccine

The HPV vaccine. This vaccine has been considered one of the “newer” vaccines of the day that is said to protect patients from getting cervical cancer from the sexually transmitted infection known as human papillomavirus (HPV). According to a recent article from Science Daily, this vaccine is recommended by the CDC for children under the age of fifteen. This vaccine has many benefits, specifically because it can protect people from a young age from cervical cancer in the future. However, debates have arisen regarding the side effects of this vaccine, leaving room for debate on whether the vaccine is “worth it.” Furthermore, recent testing has shown that only one dose of the vaccine may be necessary to protect patients from cervical cancer.

An older study of the effectiveness of HPV had interesting results regarding the side effects that it may potentially cause. Studies in Japan led to a great decline in the number of vaccinations because the general population was fearful of the effects the vaccine was supposedly causing. Several different fears regarding the vaccine emerged, ranging from heh ability of the vaccine to cross the blood-brain barrier and cause damage, to auto-immune responses that could cause life-long problems. The article concluded by saying that autoimmune responses were the greatest concern regarding the vaccine, but they were still very unlikely. These studies and questions are continuing today as more research is being done to determine the effectiveness of the vaccine and the side effects it causes.  

More recently, studies are showing that multiple doses of the HPV vaccine may not be needed to effectively protect patients, which could lead to a cost reduction in the vaccine, as well as simpler manufacturing. The study did not show much difference in effectiveness based on age, but it did recommend that children should get the vaccine earlier in order to protect them long-term. Statistics did also show that the vaccine did reduce the chances of cervical cancer in patients. It was very interesting for me to read about this vaccine and to see the various opinions and views regarding it. For parents, it is important that they should have a conversation with their children and their children’s doctor, in order to determine the best course of action to protect their children form the dangers of HPV.