A terrific study evaluating the effectiveness of HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) vaccines in Australia shows the power of a national immunization program to fight disease. It works!
In April 2007, Australia started a national, government-funded program to provide HPV vaccinations to all young women accessing health services. After only four years, they found that among vaccinated women, the prevalence of vaccine-preventable HPV infection had dropped from about 30% to 7%. Even among unvaccinated women, the rate of infection dropped by about half. Vaccines help not only the vaccinated, but also the entire community (the opposite is also true—not vaccinating harms not only the child, but the community as well.)
Now that HPV vaccine is also recommended for boys and men, the impact will be even greater. Dramatically reducing HPV infections will lead to a tremendous drop in cancer. This is huge.
HPV vaccination is safe and effective, and is recommended starting at age 11 or 12 for boys and girls. Why wait? Protect your kids, protect us all. More information here.
A similar post originally appeared on Dr. Roy’s blog.