HPV rates drop by more than half among girls and young women

[TopazLover, BSN, RN]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/19/us-usa-cancer-hpv-idUSBRE95I1AW20130619

Reuters) - The U.S. introduction of a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer in 2006 has reduced infections with the human papillomavirus or HPV - the sexually transmitted virus that causes the disease - by more than half among girls and young women, U.S. health officials said on Wednesday.

The results were better than expected and may even suggest that unvaccinated individuals are benefiting because of a drop in the number of infections circulating, the team reported in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

"This report shows that HPV works well, and the report should be a wake-up call to our nation to protect the next generation by increasing HPV vaccination rates," Dr Thomas Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a statement.

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/06/19/19043487-the-political-significance-of-hpv-rates?lite

It became a hot-button issue again last year when South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley ® vetoed an HPV bill approved by state lawmaker in her own party, despite pleas from state health officials. (South Carolina ranks ninth nationwide for cervical cancer deaths. This, alas, did not sway the governor.)

As is often the case, science keeps getting in the way of far-right Republican talking points. Last fall, research helped document the fact that the HPV vaccine did not change sexual behavior among minors, and this week, new data published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases helps document the extent to which the vaccine is literally a life-saver.

[BlueDevil,DNP, DNP, RN]

I'm watching a 30 year old patient slowly rot from the inside out due to anal cancer caused by HPV. She has an ileostomy and is in excruciating pain. Her surgeon respects the growths as often as possible for comfort reasons, but she won't last out the year. Why everyone doesn't use this vaccine is beyond me.

[TopazLover, BSN, RN]

That is so sad. If vaccination can save any young people and their families this kind of suffering then the incorrect worry about it making young people more sexually active seems even worse. And the cruel statements by Bachmann et al about the dangers of vaccination need to be stopped each and every time they are put forth as if true.

[wooh, BSN, RN]

Why everyone doesn't use this vaccine is beyond me.

Because cancer is so much better than turning our girls into autistic ***** (hussies? will that be asterisked?)! [end sarcasm font]