[SaneVax: Are Gardasil and Cervarix a boon to humanity, or a huge public health experiment? HPV vaccinations are up in Holland, but many still have questions about safety, efficacy and need. When will public health authorities understand that medical consumers deserve scientific answers to their questions before they decide HPV vaccines are right for them?]
HPV vaccinations up locally but some still question its use
By Lisa Ermak, The Holland Sentinal
Holland: The genital human papillomavirus, otherwise known as HPV, is the most common sexually-transmitted disease in the U.S., as more than half of those who are sexually active get it during their lifetime.
There is a vaccine, however, that can protect children and young adults from HPV’s potential health problems which can include genital warts and cervical cancer.
Since the approval of two vaccines by the Food and Drug Administration — Gardasil and Cervarix — more and more young women in Allegan and Ottawa counties are getting the three-shot series. But there is still some debate and hesitance, and while a growing group, vaccinated persons remain in the minority.
From 2012 to 2013, the number of females 13 to 15 years old receiving the HPV vaccine increased from 28 percent to 30 percent in Allegan County.
From 2010 to 2013, according to the Ottawa County Health Department, the number of females 11 to 18 years old who received the HPV vaccine increased from 19 percent to 31 percent.
Laurie Woods, public health nurse for the Allegan County Heath Department, said she wants parents to view the vaccine as a safe “anti-cancer vaccine.”
Read the entire article here.