If you are the parent of a young daughter, the last thing you’re probably thinking about at this stage of life is the possibility that she might develop cervical cancer. However, you should, according to a group of experts who are recommending that all females be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus or HPV. The group is recommending vaccinations for all females when they are 11 or 12. This measure should be taken to prevent cervical cancer later in life. These new guidelines come from the American Cancer Society (ACS). Several other major health groups are also recommending widespread vaccinations for this age group.
According to an article in the current issue of the newsletter, Quality Health, in 2007, over 11,000 cases of cervical cancer will be diagnosed in the United States. Of these numbers about 4,000 women will die from the disease. The ACS notes that almost all cases are “causally related to HPV”.
The new guidelines are published in the January/February issue of CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. The guidelines state that:
(1) Females between the ages of 11 and 12, should receive routine HPV vaccination.
(2) Vaccinations may be given to females as young as 9-years-old.
(3) Females between the ages of 13 and 18 should also receive the vaccine to catch up on a missed vaccine or to complete the vaccination series.
(4) The HPV vaccine is not currently recommended for women over age 26.
At the present time there is not enough date to recommend for or against vaccinating women ages 19 to 26. It is also recommended that screening for cervical cancer and pre-cancers continue in females who have been vaccinated and for those who have not been.
If you have a daughter in this age group or younger, I would highly recommend you talk to your child’s pediatrician about this vaccine. If the vaccine will prevent your child from developing cancer, then it’s certainly work a shot— literally.
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