Unveiling the Importance of HPV Vaccine: A Crucial Weapon Against 48,000 Preventable Cancers in US Each Year

Each year in the United States, approximately 48,000 new cases of cancers linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) are diagnosed, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite the availability of a vaccine, public awareness remains low.

One-third of American adults lack knowledge about HPV or the HPV vaccine, as reported in a research letter published in JAMA Oncology. In some states, this figure is significantly higher.

To address questions regarding HPV, associated cancers, and the effectiveness of the HPV vaccine, we spoke with Dr. Leana Wen, a CNN wellness expert, emergency physician, adjunct associate professor at George Washington University, former Baltimore health commissioner, and mother of two young children.

Q: What is HPV and what cancers is it linked to?

A: HPV is a virus that can infect humans, with over 100 identified types. Some HPV types are associated with cancer, including cervical cancer, vaginal and vulvar cancer, penile cancer, anal cancer, as well as some oral and throat cancers. Cervical cancer is the most common among these HPV-related cancers; each year in the US, about 13,000 new cases are reported, resulting in around 4,000 deaths annually. However, it’s important to recognize that HPV is linked not only to cervical cancer but also to other types, such as oropharyngeal cancers.

Q: Do people know if they have HPV, and do symptoms appear at the time?

A: Some HPV types cause warts, which are associated with low-risk HPV that is not linked to cancer. High-risk HPV infections usually do not produce symptoms at the time of infection; symptoms can develop later when precancerous and cancerous cells emerge. According to the National Cancer Institute, HPV infection is common, affecting nearly all sexually active individuals within a few years. About half of these infections involve high-risk HPV, which, if not cleared by the body, can lead to the development of precancerous and then cancerous cells over time.

Q: How does HPV spread?

A: The most common method of HPV transmission is through sexual intercourse. The virus can also be transmitted during close skin-to-skin contact during intercourse. It’s crucial to understand the widespread nature of HPV and how high-risk HPV is often spread by individuals who are asymptomatic. Condoms can lower the risk of spreading HPV, but since HPV can infect areas that condoms do not cover, they do not provide full protection against the virus. This is why vaccination is so important in preventing HPV-caused cancers in the future.

Q: How effective is the HPV vaccine?

A: The HPV vaccines are highly effective, with near 100% efficacy for preventing cervical cancer in women, according to the CDC. They have also been found to be very effective in reducing the incidence of anal cancer in men who have sex with men. Furthermore, the vaccines lower the likelihood of developing genital warts.

Q: When should the vaccine be administered?

A: The CDC recommends that preteens receive the first dose of the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12, although it can be given as early as age 9. For most individuals aged 9 through 14, a two-dose series is recommended, with the second shot given six to 12 months after the first. A three-dose series is recommended for people who begin vaccination at ages 15 through 45 and for immunocompromised individuals. The second shot should be administered one to two months after the first, and the third dose approximately five months later.

Q: What do doctors and public health experts say about concerns that the HPV vaccine may encourage earlier sexual activity among children?

A: They would point to the data. A large study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine compared over 21,000 vaccinated girls with nearly 186,000 unvaccinated peers and found “no evidence of increased unsafe sexual behavior.” Other studies have reported no association between HPV vaccination status and age of first sexual encounter or number of sexual partners.

Because high-risk HPV is so prevalent, protecting against the cancers it can cause is essential. We are fortunate to have a vaccine that is so effective. Administering the vaccine is not about promoting a particular behavior but rather about providing protection in case someone is exposed to the virus at some point in their lives.

Q: What are your thoughts on this latest report?

A: Public awareness of HPV and the HPV vaccine remains dangerously low among the general public, with over 40% of adults unaware of HPV in seven states and over 40% unaware of the vaccine in 13 states. In 45 states and Washington, DC, more than 60% did not know that HPV could cause oral cancers. The authors concluded that “there is a critical need to enhance HPV awareness among adolescents, young adults, parents or caregivers, and pediatric and adult health care professionals.” I concur.