The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Essay example

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine The unforgettable story of vaccines is a story of triumph and controversy. The saddest part of the story is persistent ignorance and a lack of education, comingled with the personal need of some parents to explain away the problems of their children, have caused the controversy to arise. The good news is that the triumphant reality of vaccines as a whole is still the larger enduring legacy. The human papillomavirus vaccine is not an exception to this rule; in fact despite all the controversy surrounding the vaccine, it is one of medicine’s greatest lifesaving gifts to us. What is the human papillomavirus (HPV)? According to the US government’s National Cancer Institute, human papillomaviruses†¦show more content†¦In addition, the immune system of most women will usually suppress or eliminate HPVs. This is very important because only an ongoing persistent infection has the potential to lead to cervical cancer (HPV). Eleven thousand cases of this kind of cancer were confirmed in 2007 in the United States; the amount undiagnosed is still unclear but believed to be in the tens of thousands. But to give some perspective of the problem you need to understand its effects on a global level. On the world wide scale cervical cancer strikes nearly half a million women each year, claiming more than a quarter of a million lives. â€Å"High risk† HPV types 16 and 18 are implicated in Seventy percent of cervical cancers and are hence selected for vaccine targets (The HPV). The HPV vaccine reception has been similar to that of the hepatitis vaccine in that both are seen as an attack on morality, and are considered by some as a license for promiscuity. In the book Vaccine Allen quotes, ‘ â€Å" If a 10- or 12-year-old is given a vaccine to protect against a sexually transmitted disease, then it’s implied they’d be engaging in risky sexual behavior,† said Pia de Solenni, director of â€Å"life and women’s issues† for the Family Research Council’ (433). The fact that HPV lives in the sexual organs and is spread by sexual intercourse or intravenous drug use has caused many parents to come to the belief that their children are not at risk. Some parents go so far as to suggest that ifShow MoreRelatedHuman Papillomavirus ( Hpv ) Vaccine Essay1229 Words   |  5 PagesHuman Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine My niece is 11 years old and my sister-in-law is being pressured from doctors, friends, and even the news media to give her a certain type of vaccination called HPV, Gardasil being the most common. At the end of our conversation, she mentions that at least she has a choice and turned to me, saying you may not have a choice when your kids are that age. I was stunned and she goes on to tell me how the government is trying very hard to make this particular vaccinationRead MoreThe Human Papillomavirus ( Hpv ) Vaccine2613 Words   |  11 Pagesprevented by simply getting vaccinated against the Human Papillomavirus (Shafer, Cates, Diehl, Hartmann, 2011). This virus is responsible for 99% of the cervical cancers (Smith, 2008). The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most sexually transmitted disease in the world (Nath Thappa, 2009). Four main strains of HPV exists, 6,11,16 and 18 (Smith, 2008). HPV strains 16 and 18 are the causative factors for 70% of the cervical cancers (Smith, 2008). HPV strains 6 and 11 cause about 90% of genital wartsRead MoreHuman Papillomavirus ( Hpv ) Vaccine1429 Words   |  6 PagesExploratory Essay: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Prior to June of 2006, Human Pappilomarius (HPV) was almost unheard of to the general public. But after FDA approval of Gardasil manufactured by Merck Co., HPV vaccine became the headline of many articles and breaking news of many TV channels. Why? Let’s us explore it. According to World Health Organization (WHO), HPV worldwide is the most common sexual transmitted Disease (STD). There are more than 100 strains of HPV and in those 13 strainsRead MoreThe First Human Papillomavirus ( Hpv ) Vaccine971 Words   |  4 PagesMarilena Danelon 2015-07-21 Gardasil, the first human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2006. Within a year, 41 states would make legislation relating to the HPV vaccine, and 24 states mandated the vaccine for 6th-grade girls. The â€Å"remarkable burst† of legislation led researchers to ask what role manufacturers played in school mandates, and what level of manufacturer involvement in vaccine policy was appropriate. In their paper â€Å"PharmaceuticalRead MoreThe Importance Of Human Papillomavirus ( Hpv Vaccine For School Aged Children2294 Words   |  10 Pages Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a highly contagious sexually transmitted disease that is believed to be the precursor of several cancers, especially cervical cancer. Scientists have developed two vaccines believed to prevent several strains of the virus. Much controversy has surrounded the birth of these vaccines because law makers want to make the vaccine mandatory for school-aged children. The public is outraged and therefore the controversy regarding the use of the vaccine is growing. HoweverRead MoreThe Common Sexually Transmitted Infections1539 Words   |  7 PagesThe human papillomavirus is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the United States. The human papillomavirus dates back to the nineteen hundred. Scientists did not know why people who had sexually transmitted infections also had cancer. It was not until the nineteen-eighties, that scientist discovered that the human papilloma virus may cause cancer (Preventing Cervical Cancer).The human papillomavirus is known to cause genital warts and cancer in both men and women. In the yearRead MoreInformative Essay on Hpv1566 Words   |  7 PagesHuman Papillomavirus (HPV) Testing What is the Human Papillomavirus? Commonly known as HPV, it is an infection that spreads through sexual contact. There are over one hundred different types of HPV; several types cause genital warts, while other high risk strands can lead to cancer of the cervix, anus, vagina, and penis. Because HPV is often asymptomatic, many people are unaware of their infection status, and thus, their potential for transmitting the virus to a sexual partner. The significanceRead MoreThe Importance Of Penile Cancer1458 Words   |  6 Pagescurrently infected with a strand of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and that 14 million Americans become infected annually (CDC HPV Questions and Answers, 2016). Human Papillomavirus can cause penile cancer in men, cancer of the vulva, vagina or cervix in females, and esophageal, oropharyngeal, and anal cancers in both men and women (CDC HPV Questions and Answers, 2016). Consequently, 27 million Americans annually are diagnosed with cancer from HPV (CD11.7C What Is H PV, 2016). The morbidity and mortalityRead MoreThe Human Papillomavirus And Its Effects On The United States1561 Words   |  7 PagesThe human papillomavirus remains one of the highest common sexually transmitted infections in the United States. The human papillomavirus dates back to the nineteen hundreds. Scientists during the nineteen hundreds did not comprehend on why people who had sexually transmitted infections also had cancer. It was not until the nineteen-eighties, that a scientist discovered that the human papilloma virus caused cancer (Preventing Cervical Cancer). Moreover the human papillomavirus causes genital wartsRead MoreTaking a Look at the Human Papillomavirus953 Words   |  4 Pagesthere has yet been a cure found for the disease. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a pathogen that can cause cancer. HPV is one of the few cancer causing pathogens that has a vaccination that is already being administered to the general public. The administering of this vaccine would pre vent millions of people from becoming infected. Each year about 14 million men and women are infected with the human papillomavirus, though many could be prevented. HPV is a widely contractible virus that can yield cancerous