Introduction of the Vaccine In 2006, the Food and Drug Administration approved two vaccines to prevent HPV, the most common STI worldwide. These vaccines are meant to prevent HPV 16 and 18, which are two high risk types of infection that lead to cancer, as well as types 6 and 11 that lead to genital warts. The vaccines are preventative and recommended for girls aged 9 to 14 years old, as it is the most effective when given before sexual activity occurs. At first, the vaccines required three doses for full protection given once with a specific amount of time between each injection. A third updated vaccine was released in 2014 that not only protects against five additional high-risk types of HPV, but also only requires two doses for adolescents aged 14 years old and …show more content…
Cervical cytology tests were conducted on 4127 vaccinated and unvaccinated female patients, and researchers found that vaccinated females had lower rates of abnormal cervical cytology results than unvaccinated. Researchers noted the risk was even lower for females who completed the three doses of the vaccine or received the vaccine between the ages of 11 and 14, proving the efficacy of the HPV vaccination among high-risk patients. (12) In 2016, extended trials exhibit evidence that the HPV vaccine is highly effective in adult women, as cases of HPV infection, genital warts, and precancerous cervical cells have reduced. In addition, overall cases of HPV and HPV related illnesses have decreased, even for unvaccinated people which may suggest herd immunity. This means that the vaccine has lowered the overall spread of HPV, even for those who remain unvaccinated, but there are still challenges that prevent the people from receiving any of the three HPV vaccinations.