(U.S.) – A new study brings attention to the effectiveness of the vaccine that protects against the cancer-causing human papillomavirus.
The American Academy of Pediatrics study reportedly includes evidence that the cancer-preventing vaccine has been effective in a community setting in offering protection against strains of the virus and in offering herd protection since it was introduced 11 years ago.
The study, “Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Effectiveness and Herd Protection in Young Women,” published in the February issue of Pediatrics (published online Jan. 22), examined trends in HPV in the Cincinnati area from 2006 to 2017. Researchers from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital analyzed information gathered from 1,580 women ages 13-26 who were sexually experienced and enrolled in four different studies. The study noted significant decreases in various strains of HPV among women who were vaccinated with the 4-valent and 9-valent HPV vaccine types.
The study also found that the prevalence of 4-valent and 9-valent vaccine-types of HPV decreased significantly among unvaccinated women, which suggested herd protection or community immunity. The authors suggest further research is needed to examine trends in the 9-valent vaccine-type HPV after higher rates of vaccination are achieved. HPV infections may cause genital warts and cancers, and in women, may cause cervical, vaginal, vulvar, anal and oropharyngeal cancers. In men, the infection may cause anal, penile and oropharyngeal cancers.
