HPV Vaccine Safety: Debunking the Myth September 15, 2011 News, Physician Resource, Politics and Medicine, Primary Care, Public Health, SFMS Member ACOG, CDC, HPV vaccination, HPV vaccine safety 0 The medical community issued swift criticism Tuesday after Rep. Michele Bachmann dragged the safety of the vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV) into the political spotlight, reigniting the controversy over the risks and necessity of vaccinating children. “The American Academy of Pediatrics would like to correct false statements made in the Republican presidential campaign that HPV vaccine is dangerous and can cause mental retardation,” the American Academy of Pediatrics said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon. “There is absolutely no scientific validity to this statement. Since the vaccine has been introduced, more than 35 million doses have been administered, and it has an excellent safety record.” Last year, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended the HPV vaccination for all girls and young women between the ages of 9 and 26. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that doctors “strongly recommend” that all 11- or 12-year-old girls be vaccinated against HPV, which is the cause of almost all cases of cervical cancer. The vaccine is a series of three shots, and is approved for use in males and females from ages 9 to 26. A reality check: more than 95 percent of Americans have premarital sex, and more than 50 percent of sexually active Americans contract HPV at some point in their lives. The disease can cause genital warts in men, and a small percentage of affected women will develop cervical cancer. This is a vaccine that truly can save lives. Click here for more information about the HPV vaccine and why it’s safe and effective, written by SFMS Member Jennifer Gunter, MD, FRCS(C), FACOG, DABPM, board certified ob/gyn in the U.S. and Canada. Click here for information about HPV Vaccine from the CDC. Comments are closed.
