MetaChat - HPV vaccine approved.

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08 June 2006

HPV vaccine approved. I truthfully didn't think it would happen.

post by: occhiblu at: 17:58 | 15 comments

That is excellent, excellent news.

posted by Miko 08 June | 18:12

I'm shocked and thrilled myself, but I'm also concerned that we haven't heard the last of it. Don't know why. Just a gut feeling.

posted by mudpuppie 08 June | 18:13

I think there are still going to be fights about who gets the vaccine -- obviously it's best to get it while young, before you have intercourse, and I think that's gonna become a huge issue.

posted by occhiblu 08 June | 18:14

Definitely. And no doubt religion will come into it.

One of my questions, though, is about how safe it is. Aren't most vaccines for viruses live vaccines?

posted by mudpuppie 08 June | 18:22

National Cancer Institute is saying it's "virus-like particles," not a live virus, but yeah, I'll be interested to see where this goes.

posted by occhiblu 08 June | 18:37

It's approved for use in women 9-26. It will help protect those who haven't had sex, or much of it, I suppose. Even so, it will not eliminate the disease, just a leading cause of it. It's great news. Even THEY can't fight a vaccine.

I am going to get my Plan B filled soon, though, and encourage everyone who think it'd ever be an option to do so as well. I know prescriptions loose strength over time, you can't exactly stockpile it, but that's the one that scares me right now.

posted by rainbaby 08 June | 19:42

This is truly the end of civilization as we know it. Twelve year olds will be fornicating indiscriminately!

posted by pieisexactlythree 08 June | 19:46

I'm looking forward to the debates this will cause in the "mommy circle." I know there are going to be mothers out there who probably won't give the vaccines to their daughters because they think it's unnecessary as long as they "raise them right."

posted by jrossi4r 08 June | 19:52

they think it's unnecessary as long as they "raise them right."

I wonder how many of these moms have/had HPV and don't know it.

posted by amro 08 June | 20:09

How common is HPV?

Approximately 20 million people are currently infected with HPV. At least 50 percent of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have acquired genital HPV infection. About 6.2 million Americans get a new genital HPV infection each year.

Or, as my GYN likes to say, "Everyone has it."

posted by Miko 08 June | 20:21

The vaccine is only for the dangerous strains, though, not all of them.

posted by occhiblu 08 June | 20:28

approved for ages 9-26?
When will it actually be available?
(I turn 27 next month!!)

posted by kellydamnit 08 June | 21:09

It sounds like the expense might also prevent widespread use, which is too bad- it could practically ELMINATE cervical cancer, people. Hopefully once production goes through, systems will be put into place to get this one out to the masses.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 08 June | 22:50

CNN is reporting it will be available "late this summer".

posted by muddgirl 08 June | 23:07

I read today (can't find the article and it was at work so not in the history) that they're testing it on women over 26 now.

I guess the problem is that, if you've already got one of the strains this is for, it can INCREASE your cancer risk.
eep

posted by kellydamnit 09 June | 22:56

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