NewHpv vaccine is it safe?

Gardasil as HPV Vaccine 1

Running Head : GARDASIL AS HPV VACCINE

Gardasil as Human Papillomavirus (HPV ) Vaccine for Pre-Adolescents : Key Issues

Gardasil as HPV Vaccine 2

Roughly 6 .2 million American women are infected with genital human papillomavirus (HPV ) each year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] , 2004 . On a global scale , 20 million people are estimated to be currently infected with the virus . Sexually active men and women are more vulnerable to the disease , understandably because genital HPV infection is a sexually transmitted disease (STD ) - at least

br 50 percent of them will have an infection at some point in their lives

Over 100 types of HPVs infect humans , 40 of which can infect the genital tract and anus of both men and women and consequently cause genital warts (Sttzppler , 2006 . A certain subgroup of the HPVs that affect the anogenital tract (anus and genital tract ) can cause precancerous changes in the cervix and thus lead to cervical cancer Although in most cases the HPV infection goes away on its own prevention against it is necessary considering that it is the main risk factor for cervical cancer - a disease that is estimated to infect 11 150 Americans in 2007 and claim the lives of 3 ,670 (CDC , 2007 National Cancer Institute [NCI] , n .d

The United States government , recognizing this need , has approved the distribution of Gardasil , the first vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer (United States Food and Drug Administration [FDA] 2007 . Since the onset of HPV infection comes with sexual activity , it is recommended that girls 11-12 years old or even as young as 9 be given the vaccine , years before they become sexually active . The FDA has also passed a recommendation making vaccination of preadolescent girls with Gardasil be mandatory . If the recommendation is approved by the Bush administration , Gardasil vaccination will join the ranks of vaccines against whooping cough , measles , chicken pox and other routine shots for American children (Zwillich , 2006 . Such a recommendation is met with both high praises and fierce criticisms from almost all sectors of the community . This will tackle key issues surrounding

Gardasil as HPV Vaccine 3

Gardasil as HPV vaccine and will present the views of the government the medical society and the public with regards to these issues

Key Issue 1 : Safety

FDA , in a press release announcing its decision to license the use and distribution of Gardasil , also mentioned the safety of the vaccine (FDA 2007 . In several evaluative studies , presumably by or commissioned by Merck , Gardasil 's manufacturer , the drug was found out to be safe on the 11 ,000 individuals tested . Adverse reactions experienced by some were reported to be mild such as pain or tenderness at the site of the injection . CDC (2007 , supporting FDA 's claim , affirmed the safety of the drug . Licensing authorities in Europe has also been convinced of the drug 's safety (Centre for the Prevention of HPV Treatment of HPV Related Disease , 2006 . In fact the European Union...