HPV vaccine sparks controversy
By Alex Hilton, contributing writer
Posted on November 16, 2006

The recent link established between the sexually transmitted disease human papillomavirus virus and cervical cancer has sent many women scrambling to prevent it.

A vaccination is now available to prevent HPV, and possibly cervical cancer. However, many parents are concerned about financing it, the safety behind it and having to realize their teenage daughters are sexually active.

“There are over 20 million people affected with HPV in the United States,” Health Center physician Mouline Etre said. “HPV is the most common STD.”

Etre cited two different vaccinations for HPV. Out of the two types, only one has been FDA-approved.

“The first vaccine, Gardisil, was approved in June,” she said. “It is given in three different shots and will cover four types of HPV.” The set of three shots is a one-time deal; once they are completed, no more will ever be necessary.

The vaccine is not available at the University Health Center, Etre said, but she hopes it will be available in the near future. However, prescriptions are available at local pharmacies in Harrisonburg.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HPV has more than 30 sexually transmitted strains. Usually it goes undetected because there are no symptoms, or the individual was not screened for it. Many of these infections clear in time, but there are other “high-risk” types of HPV. These may result in cervical cancer.

In 2006, the American Cancer Society estimated that in the United States, roughly 11,000 women would develop invasive cervical cancer. Approximately 4,000 women will die from the disease. The National Cancer Institute estimates that half a million women worldwide are diagnosed with cervical cancer, with a quarter million dying from it.
 
According to the NCI, HPV could also be responsible for cancers in the anus, vulva, vagina and some of the oropharynx, which is the middle part of the throat. It might also be a risk factor for penile cancer.

There are still complications concerning the shot, although there are no serious side effects as of yet. More controversial, though, are the politics behind the shot, and whether parents are morally comfortable with vaccinating their daughter against a STD.

 “You are not just talking about cervical cancer, you are talking about your health for the rest of your life,” said Larry Whitten, an OB-GYN from Harrisonburg. “I’m a parent and I can’t imagine not getting my child vaccinated. I think any responsible parent, especially one who has first hand seen someone affected by cervical cancer, should get their child vaccinated.”

At a time when government data shows that 70 percent of girls have had sex by age 18, there is a lot of support for the vaccine’s promising benefits of protecting the majority of women.

“Knowing that the HPV vaccine is out there and that it prevents cancer, will save me a lot of worrying in the future,” freshman Abby Oaks said.

Freshman Callee Burns agreed.

“I feel protected knowing that there are steps being taken to care for women’s health,” she said. “Hopefully as time progresses there will be more vaccines developed that will defend against life-threatening STDs.”