Krishan Bakhru

HPV Vaccine

Although there was much said about an HPV vaccine, it wasn’t until very recently that an HPV vaccine was granted approval by the FDA to be used in the treatment of HPV.

HPV is short for the Human Papilloma Virus which is regarded as a sexually transmitted disease. There are more and more cases of this virus occurring, and as more and more teenagers and preteens begin sexual lives at this early age, there is now more than ever a spread of this virus.

The main reason for this lying in the fact that HPV is contagious. This was a factor in trying to find a viable HPV vaccine. It had already been established that there was no cure as such for the HPV infection but a vaccine was still seen as a possibility.

So it was, that in June of 2006 the first ever HPV vaccine was approved by the FDA. This HPV vaccine is known by the name of Gardasil and for the time being at least is used as a vaccine to treat HPV in women.

Another vaccine which was awaiting on FDA approval as of the end of 2006 is called Cervarix and is also used as an HPV vaccine for women. An HPV vaccine for men has as yet to be established although Gardasil is being tested for use on men as well.

Studies for the HPV vaccine Gardasil shows that it is best if administered before the commencement of sexual relations. For this reason it has been recommended that this HPV vaccine be administered to girls as young as 9-12 years of age.

This is the ideal recommended time frame to administer the HPV vaccine, although the age delimitation is between 12-26 years. Within this age window a series of 3 Gardasil HPV vaccine doses will be administered.

Not unnaturally, the very young age at which the HPV vaccine is recommended be administered to women, is the cause for concern and contention among many people, parents of young girls especially. However there are always two sides to a story and both sides in this case have their good points.

On the one hand administering this HPV vaccine can prevent the onset of the HPV infection in sexually active young women. And on the other hand, parents are afraid that administering such a vaccine at such a young age could be sending the wrong message to the younger generations.

What truly complicates the entire issue is the fact that there is lobbying to make this HPV vaccine a mandatory one. This could in effect upset the apple cart as it is taking away the choice from the parent as to whether their child should receive the HPV vaccine or not.

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