HPV vaccine

MaryTN
Mon, 21 May 2007 17:38:23 +0000

The Spring 2007 issue of “Medicine on the Midway” – The Magazine of the University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division has an editorial by Kenneth Alexander, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of pediatrics and section chief of pediatric infectious disease at the University of Chicago. His research involves the human papillomavirus transcription control, DNA replication, innate immune responses and antiviral therapy.

Hospitals, Clinics & Doctors in IL - UChicago Medicine; near the bottom of the page look for ** Perspective (PDF)
Pediatrician Kenneth Alexander looks at the pros and cons of the mandated HPV vaccinations. By Kenneth Alexander, MD, PhD **

An interesting point: Pap smears will still be an essential part of the cervical cancer battle because the HPV vaccine prevents only 70 percent of high-grade cervical dysplasias and cervical cancers. I hope women who receive the vaccine will not think they are exempt from getting pap smears.

His article also discusses budgets, costs, and decisions. Cervical cancer rates are dropping 4.5%/year and cervical cancer is already rare. The vaccine is expensive and health care dollars are limited. To vaccinate all the 11-year-old girls in Illinois this year alone would cost $40 million. He recommends we spend more time deliberating the best use of public health funds.

There are many other interesting points if you’d like to read it.