Study: HPV shots cut risk of STI, cancer for years

By: Eduardo Cuevas

..... The nation's most common sexually transmitted infection appears to have an effect, long-term vaccine that continues to reduce cancer risk, a new study found.
..... New research published this past week [09/07/2023] in the journal Pediatrics builds on growing evidence about the efficacy of vaccination against HPV, which is most often spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex and can result in genital warts. For most people who get HPV, the virus goes away on its own without any effect, but for others, it can lead to certain cancers.
..... Researchers affiliated with the pharmaceutical company Merk spent 10 years following nearly 1,300 people vaccinated between ages 9 and 15 wit Merk's Garasil 9, which protects against nine strains of HPV. About 970 girls and 300 boys form 13 countries, spread across five continents, received the vaccine's approved three-dose regimen.

some types of cancer decline since HPV vaccine emerged

..... HPV vaccines have been administers in the U.S. since 2006, according to the Kaiser family foundation, a nonprofit health policy research group. Garasil 9 was approved in 2014. Hawaii, Rhode Island, Virginia and the District of Columbia have varying laws requiring HPV vaccines for school entry, generally for middle schoolers.
..... HPV causes about 80% of cervical cancers, which lead to about 12,000 women dying each year, the Centers for Disease control and Prevention estimates. Since HPV vaccines began being sued in the U.S., HPV infections from the strains that cause most cancers and genital warts have dropped 88% among teen girls and 81% among young adult women. among vaccinated woman, there's been a 40% drop in cervical cancers caused by HPV strains associated with the illness. The decline in infections is attributed to more widespread use of the vaccine.
..... Head and neck cancer derived from HPV, however, have steadily risen, particularly among men, prompting concern among health professionals to inoculate more boys.

Growing body of research shows effectiveness of HPV vaccines

..... The new study adds to ongoing research around HPV vaccines, including a prior eight-year interim study.
..... The findings indicate the vaccine protected more than 90% of recipients for a full decade, suggesting booster shots are not yet needed, said Dr. Alain Luxembourg, a executive director of clinical research at Merck and a study author.
..... "It's really an ideal situation for vaccines,: said Luxembourg, who helped develop the nine-valent Gardasil vaccine.
..... The study didn't use a control group, or people who didn't receive treatment for HPV. Instead, it related on comparing prior vaccine trials, researchers added.
..... The low incidence of infection and disease related to the HPV vaccine isn't likely tied to participants being sexually inactive, researchers said. Participants contracted other STIs, including HPV types not covered by the vaccine, during the study.
..... Merck has distributed more than 444 million doses of Gardasil, which protects against four types of HPV, and more than 203 million doses of Garadsil 9, the company said.

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