HPV Vaccines: Separating Fiction from Fact
You’ve probably heard a lot about the HPV vaccine, which protects against the sexually transmitted pathogen human papillomavirus — which itself can lead to cancers of the cervix, anus, throat, and more. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about the vaccine, such as Michele Bachmann’s debunked claim that it causes mental retardation. But, even before Bachmann gave us her two cents, there have been plenty of falsehoods flying around about the HPV vaccine.
- Myth: Vaccination against HPV will increase sexual promiscuity among vaccine recipients.
Fact: Studies show that this fear is unfounded.
- Myth: Because the HPV vaccine only protects against two cancer-causing strains of HPV, it isn’t useful in cancer prevention.
Fact: The two cancer-causing strains of HPV that the vaccine protects against account for 70 percent of all cases of cervical cancer. Furthermore, Gardasil protects against two additional strains of HPV, which together are responsible for 90 percent of genital warts.
- Myth: The HPV vaccine has caused death in some of its recipients.
Fact: While some people have died after receiving the vaccine, their deaths were not caused by it.
- Myth: There is human papillomavirus DNA in Gardasil.
Fact: Gardasil consists of empty protein shells. The infectious portions of HPV’s genetic code are not involved in its manufacture.
- Myth: The HPV vaccine is only approved for ages 9 to 26, but cervical cancer rarely affects this age group. Therefore, the vaccine will have no impact on cervical-cancer rates.
Fact: Cervical cancer usually appears later in life because the cancer takes a long time to develop.
- Myth: Cervical cancer is a relatively rare cancer whose rates have been declining for decades. Therefore, the vaccine is unnecessary.
Fact: Cervical cancer rates have been declining among women with access to Pap tests, but cervical cancer remains a leading cause of death in other parts of the world.
For an expanded version of this post, with citations and more full-fledged explanations, please visit http://blog.advocatesaz.org/2012/01/24/hpv-vaccines-separating-fiction-from-fact
HPV Vaccines: Separating Fiction from Fact
You’ve probably heard a lot about the HPV vaccine, which protects against the sexually transmitted pathogen human papillomavirus — which itself can lead to cancers of the cervix, anus, throat, and more. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about the vaccine, such as Michele Bachmann’s debunked claim that it causes mental retardation. But, even before Bachmann gave us her two cents, there have been plenty of falsehoods flying around about the HPV vaccine.
- Myth: Vaccination against HPV will increase sexual promiscuity among vaccine recipients.
Fact: Studies show that this fear is unfounded.
- Myth: Because the HPV vaccine only protects against two cancer-causing strains of HPV, it isn’t useful in cancer prevention.
Fact: The two cancer-causing strains of HPV that the vaccine protects against account for 70 percent of all cases of cervical cancer. Furthermore, Gardasil protects against two additional strains of HPV, which together are responsible for 90 percent of genital warts.
- Myth: The HPV vaccine has caused death in some of its recipients.
Fact: While some people have died after receiving the vaccine, their deaths were not caused by it.
- Myth: There is human papillomavirus DNA in Gardasil.
Fact: Gardasil consists of empty protein shells. The infectious portions of HPV’s genetic code are not involved in its manufacture.
- Myth: The HPV vaccine is only approved for ages 9 to 26, but cervical cancer rarely affects this age group. Therefore, the vaccine will have no impact on cervical-cancer rates.
Fact: Cervical cancer usually appears later in life because the cancer takes a long time to develop.
- Myth: Cervical cancer is a relatively rare cancer whose rates have been declining for decades. Therefore, the vaccine is unnecessary.
Fact: Cervical cancer rates have been declining among women with access to Pap tests, but cervical cancer remains a leading cause of death in other parts of the world.
For an expanded version of this post, with citations and more full-fledged explanations, please visit http://ppadvocatesaz.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/hpv-vaccines-separating-fiction-from-fact
