Spring Break
Debate emerges over making HPV shot mandatory
Issue date: 10/16/08
Even though the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine known as Gardasil was introduced to the public three years ago, it is still causing concern for girls nationally as well as on the Hopkins campus, according to Dr. Alan Joffee, director of the Student Health and Wellness Center.
The HPV vaccine, which aims to prevent cervical cancer and genital warts through a series of three injections over a six-month span, is available to any woman under the age of 26. Many girls are encouraged to begin treatment before leaving home for college.
According to Joffee, there has been an incredible amount of controversy regarding the vaccine since its introduction, approval and license three years ago.
Many girls worry about the lack of long-term research that has yet to accompany the vaccine.
Freshman Melissa Cole has received two of the three shots so far, but she said that she does not believe the vaccine to be completely benign.
"There are still considerable risks to receiving such a new vaccine. Even though there are very few cases of complications, they still exist, and that is enough to cause doubt about the technology," Cole said.
While many legislators have attempted to make the vaccine mandatory for all young women, Joffee said this is not necessary quite yet, as he does not regard HPV to be a current public health menace in the United States.
Joffee said that while the Health Center does encourage incoming female students to receive the vaccination, the University is still far from mandating it.
"In order to make any vaccine mandatory, there must be long-term security data. The vaccine needs more positive long-term data supporting it," Joffee said.
According to the Gardasil Web site, the vaccination actually contains viral proteins from four sources that cause illness in women. Two of these four viruses cause genital warts, while the other two represent 70 percent of the most common forms of cervical cancer in the United States. Through this exposure, the vaccination attempts to prevent viruses before they happen.
The HPV vaccine, which aims to prevent cervical cancer and genital warts through a series of three injections over a six-month span, is available to any woman under the age of 26. Many girls are encouraged to begin treatment before leaving home for college.
According to Joffee, there has been an incredible amount of controversy regarding the vaccine since its introduction, approval and license three years ago.
Many girls worry about the lack of long-term research that has yet to accompany the vaccine.
Freshman Melissa Cole has received two of the three shots so far, but she said that she does not believe the vaccine to be completely benign.
"There are still considerable risks to receiving such a new vaccine. Even though there are very few cases of complications, they still exist, and that is enough to cause doubt about the technology," Cole said.
While many legislators have attempted to make the vaccine mandatory for all young women, Joffee said this is not necessary quite yet, as he does not regard HPV to be a current public health menace in the United States.
Joffee said that while the Health Center does encourage incoming female students to receive the vaccination, the University is still far from mandating it.
"In order to make any vaccine mandatory, there must be long-term security data. The vaccine needs more positive long-term data supporting it," Joffee said.
According to the Gardasil Web site, the vaccination actually contains viral proteins from four sources that cause illness in women. Two of these four viruses cause genital warts, while the other two represent 70 percent of the most common forms of cervical cancer in the United States. Through this exposure, the vaccination attempts to prevent viruses before they happen.
Be the first to comment on this story