THE HUMAN PAPILLOMA VACCINE WORKS, AND THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO VACCINATE YOUR CHILDREN

After a study carried out in the United States on the efficacy of the Human Papillomavirus vaccine (HPV), it has been seen that it has helped reduce the incidence of two types of viruses by up to 20 percent, responsible for seven out of ten cervical cancers that are registered annually in the world.

Despite being administered a little over a decade, this research has shown that the vaccine works, and that it is very important to vaccinate our teenagers, including boys.

The incidence of two types of HPV has been reduced by 20%

The analysis, led by researcher Nancy McClung of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, United States, has been published in the scientific journal "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention", and addresses the effectiveness of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

The study has covered a period of seven years, and has sought to determine whether HPV types 16 and 18 (responsible for approximately 70 percent of cervical cancers worldwide), were decreasing with vaccination.

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For this purpose, more than 10,000 archived samples between 2008 and 2014 of women between the ages of 18 and 39 have been analyzed, at high risk of cervical cancer after being diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 and 3.

The results obtained after the investigation have been the following:

Among the women who had been vaccinated, the incidence of viruses 16 and 18 had been reduced to more than 20 percent.
Among the unvaccinated women, the incidence of these viruses had been reduced by four percent, it is believed that by effect of "flock protection", which takes place when a significant proportion of the population has developed immunity against an infectious disease, making its spread less likely.

For the director of the investigation the data is a clear sign that the vaccine works to prevent cervical cancer in women:

"In the coming years, we should see an even greater impact as more women get vaccinated during early adolescence and before exposure to HPV," said Nancy McClung.

What is HPV?

The human papillomavirus or papillomavirus, It is transmitted during sex, and can cause different diseases in both men and women, from benign to very serious.

It is estimated that more than half of sexually active people get this virus at some point in his life, although in most cases the infection is due without problems. But if the virus persists in the body for many years (between 20 and 30) or if it belongs to certain types, it could cause the appearance of malignant tumors.

In women, the virus is related in most cases with cervical cancer, while in men it is associated with penile, anus and oropharyngeal tumors. In both sexes, the virus can cause genital warts, a benign but annoying and frequent condition.

When should the vaccine be given?

The vaccine It is especially effective when the infection has not yet occurred, and this can only be guaranteed when sexual intercourse has not yet begun. Hence the importance of vaccinating preteens and teenagers. In any case, the vaccine can also be administered in adult women.

The human papillomavirus vaccine began to be put in Spain ten years ago, and is currently included in the official vaccine schedule for all girls between 11 and 14 years old (depending on the official calendars of each autonomous community). The complete schedule consists of two or three 3 doses and is completed in 6 months.

Why it is important that children also get vaccinated

Since the human papillomavirus is transmitted by both women and men, and in them it is also responsible for certain diseases, the Vaccine Advisory Committee of the AEP recommends its administration also in children.

However, the vaccine is still not included in the official calendar for boys, so families who want to give it to their children must pay for it out of pocket.

In Babies and more The HPV vaccine will still not be included in the vaccination schedule for children, despite expert recommendations

The United Kingdom has been the last country to join the vaccination of children between 12 and 13 years old, following the examples of the United States, Canada or Australia, where children have been receiving this vaccine for free for years.

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