HPV Screening, Vaccination Efforts Should Be Unified, Women's Health Advocates Say

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Immune System / Vaccines;  Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 29 Nov 2006 - 3:00 PDT

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Screening and vaccination efforts against the human papillomavirus should become unified in light of FDA's approval of Merck's HPV vaccine Gardasil, women's health advocates said earlier this month at the second annual HPV and Cervical Cancer Summit held in Washington, D.C., United Press International reports (Dell'Amore, United Press International, 11/17). FDA in July approved Gardasil for sale and marketing to girls and women ages nine to 26. According to Merck, the vaccine in clinical trials has been shown to be 100% effective in preventing HPV infection with strains 16 and 18, which together cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases, in women who do not already have the virus, and about 99% effective in preventing HPV strains 6 and 11, which together with strains 16 and 18 cause about 90% of genital wart cases. Gardasil also protects against vaginal and vulvar cancers, two other gynecological cancers that are linked to HPV, according to a study presented in June at a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Atlanta (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 11/2). The summit -- hosted by Women In Government, a not-for-profit association for women in state government -- included state legislators, medical clinicians and researchers, women's health advocates, representatives from federal health agencies and public health officials from about 40 states, according to a Women In Government release. "The availability of an effective HPV vaccine is a medical triumph" but "[a]t the same time, it is critical that women who get vaccinated do not become complacent about screening," Marie Savard, an internist and women's health expert who participated in the meeting, said, adding, "Screening will still be necessary to protect against cervical cancer caused by HPV types not covered by the vaccine, for women already exposed to HPV and for women who do not receive the vaccine" (Women In Government release, 11/21). Mark DeFrancesco -- chief medical officer of Connecticut Women's Health who also spoke at the summit, said -- "There's a great, tremendous, long-term benefit from vaccination," but "[w]e can't ignore the importance of screening." He added that combining the Pap test with an HPV test would detect nearly all abnormal cells, giving women "100% assurance." Women in Government President Susan Crosby said, "We have all the tools now to eradicate this disease" (United Press International, 11/17).

"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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