HPV Vaccine

To me, HPV Vaccine, was just another shot I got. However, I remember this one a little more than the other vaccines I received as a kid. My mom and dad talked about this one for a little longer. Because I am not sexually active, and there are some negative side effects to this vaccine, my parents spoke with doctors and got other opinions on this vaccine before deciding to give it to me. What does it claim to do: prevent cancer. Well then why would everyone not get it? Let’s look into this vaccine a little more and see why there is great debate over the HPV vaccine.

According to a new article released titled “Cervical cancer could be prevented with a single injection, suggests a new study,” the risk of developing cervical cancer drops significantly with one little shot. HPV lives in the skin around the genitals and can be passed to others through sex and other intimate contact, despite condom use. The disease is responsible for more than 99% of cervical cancers, as well as causing vaginal, vulval, anal and penile cancers, and genital warts. Cervical cancer ranks as the second most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of death of women worldwide

In the study conducted, there were 133,082 women and girls given the HPV vaccine. Within five years, 2.65% of unvaccinated teenagers developed pre-invasive cervical disease, compared with 1.62, 1.99 and 1.86% in the one, two and three-dose groups respectively. The risk was 36, 28 and 34 percent lower, respectively, for the vaccinated teenagers. This study proves that the vaccine does lower the chance of cervical cancers and diseases of HPV. However, why is there debate?

Well, of course it became political.

According to the AMA Journal of Ethics article, on September 12th, 2011, controversy over the HPV vaccine was ignited by the remarks of presidential candidate, Michele Bachmann during a debate. After denouncing an opponent’s role in mandating HPV vaccination in Texas, Bachmann made claims that the HPV vaccine was hazardous. During an interview with Fox News she explained:

There’s a woman who came up crying to me tonight after the debate. She said her daughter was given that vaccine. She told me her daughter suffered mental retardation as a result of that vaccine. There are very dangerous consequences [67].

quote from Michele Bachmann on HPV vaccine

However, the remarks were withdrawn and the HPV vaccine was left in controversy. The political controversy was also added to by the people who were afraid of exposing their 11 and 12 year old daughters to a sexual vaccine, because of course they were not sexually active. Great studies were attributed to ensuring the safety of the vaccine. Overall, it prevents cancer and has been proven to be safe. So vaccinate! But more importantly talk to your doctor about the potential risks and dangers of this vaccine.