There has been constant research and experimentation in regards to the HPV vaccine. In 2006, the FDA approved a HPV vaccination is a two dose shot that is administered between the ages of 11 and 26. It can prevent almost 90% of HPV-related cancers. It has its strongest immune response towards the younger ages of 11 and 12 before the person is exposed to the virus. The second dose is to be given six – twelve months after the first. However, the vaccine is not as effective when both doses are not administered. Only half of American adolescents have been fully vaccinated against HPV. America is one of the leaders in healthcare and healthcare innovation yet only 50% of adolescents are fully vaccinated for HPV. This stems from physician’s not strongly urging parents to receive the vaccine or parents lacking the knowledge or needing more information about it. More than 50% of adolescents do not complete the two dose vaccination. Now this is in America, imagine in low and middle income countries where healthcare is poor and medical resources are limited. They are now more susceptible to HPV and the cancers that arise from it because of their lack of resources and the inefficiency of a two dose vaccine. Two dose vaccines are inconvenient and require a health provider than truly stays on top of their patients’ medical records and encourage vaccinations. However many providers, including my own, was passive in the promotion of the HPV vaccine. I am thankful to have a protective mom, who insisted I receive the vaccine because better to be protected rather than sorry.
Currently, researchers are working on developing a single dose HPV vaccine. The Costa-Rica HPV Vaccine Trial provided data that one dose of the HPV vaccine could provide durable protection against HPV vaccine. Although the study who received the one dose was small and not randomly selected it provided possibility that one dose can produce enough antibodies to provide protection. The one dose was able to elicit a 9-times higher antibody response than just a natural response to the infection. The importance of a one dose HPV vaccine is that it would be able to be distributed even further to low income countries because now one dose can be given to more patients rather than two doses for select patients. A single dose strategy could have major effects on public health. As it could cause the development of herd immunity which would protect women who cannot receive the vaccine. The next steps for the trial is to utilize a larger and random subject pool to further prove their data. This trial will help eradicate a public health epidemic because if we can make vaccines easier and more efficient it will be cheaper and quicker to distribute them.
There is also a 3 dose vaccine. Which is just extreme and unfeasible in low income countries. In more recent studies by the NIH, the single dose vaccine against incident and persistent of the vaccine targeted HPV types had similar effects as the triple dose vaccine. A study done by Human Vaccine and Immunotherapeutics demonstrated that the three dose had 100% efficacy in preventing cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 who where at risk for HPV infection.
A single shot vaccine would also have major improvements in America. However, America needs to focus on physicians; physicians need to positively and assertively recommend the vaccine to patients. Americans are not going to do more than they have to do. Also the constant threat of the anti-vaxx movement grows the belief that if there is not a dire need of a vaccine often Americans will not get it. This one dosage vaccine could catapult the US towards its 80% vaccination goal. The importance of 80% is that at this level it is very difficult for a virus to spread in a population providing herd immunity.
It is crucial to educate parents on the importance of vaccines. Especially vaccines that can have the potential to eradicate a virus. HPV vaccinations that have the potential of eradicating HPV related cancers such as cervical. The key word here is prevention. Through early vaccination, we can protect our youth and work further towards the eradication of the disease. However the passiveness of doctors is standing in our way. We need our doctors to ensure, patients understand the importance of the vaccine. Vaccinating children is one of the most cost effective and feasible ways to prevent HPV as healthcare costs only rise as more people are in the hospital for cancer treatments.
In all studies observed, the best response to the vaccines is acheieved when it is obtained at the beginning of adolescents at age 11 or 12.
The Good, The Bad, The Microbiome 