Nassau University Medical Center
2201 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow, NY 11554
www.nuhealth.net 516-572-5809
According to the CDC, Cervical Cancer causes about 4,000 deaths in women each year in the US. HPV (human papilloma virus) is the main cause of cervical cancer in women (CDC).
HPV is a common virus. It is transferred from one person to another through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity. HPV vaccines prevent serious health problems, such as cervical cancer and genital warts. Safe and effective vaccines are available to protect males and females against HPV and health problems the virus can cause (CDC).
Unfortunately, HPV vaccination isn’t catching on in the US as health officials hoped (FiercePharma). According to a study done by the CDC, "less than half of teenage girls have received even one dose of a vaccine and only one third have received all three doses."
Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of CDC’s immunization center, told reporters at Fierce Pharma in regards to vaccination that “if we don’t make major changes, far too many girls in this generation will remain vulnerable to cervical cancer later in life.”
HPV vaccines are licensed by the FDA and recommended by the CDC. The two vaccines available today are both very safe and effective against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause most cervical cancers in women (CDC). Both Cervarix and Gardasil are given as shots and require 3 doses to be fully protected (CDC). Only Gardasil protects against HPV types 6 and 11, the two strands that cause most genital warts in both males and females and had been tested and licensed for use in males. In addition, Gardasil has been tested and shown to protect against cancers of the vulva, vagina and anus (CDC).
Females ages 9 through 26 years old are recommended to be vaccinated against HPV, and to complete all 3 doses.
To contact a gynecologist for more information, visit the NuHealth Women's Care website linked here.
No comments:
Post a Comment