JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – New research by the CDC shows the infection rate of the human papillomavirus- or HPV- seem to have dropped, since they recommended a vaccine. I spoke to Dr. Mobeen Rathore with Wolfson Children's Hospital who says this is a very positive step in protecting women from getting cervical cancer.
The CDC study looks at four types of the virus- two of which are responsible for 66% of cervical cancers in the United States. In just six years, researchers saw the rate of infection among teenage girls drop from 11.5% to 4.3%
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"That's a huge positive sign that this vaccine is very important," said Dr. Rathore. But he says there's more work to be done and more people need to get on board.
"I think there should be no doubt that this vaccine should be used not just in girls but also in boys because the boys can give the infection to their partner, " said Dr. Rathore.
For women between the ages of 20-24, the rate of infection fell from 18.5% to 12.1%.
"It's excellent news for women we love- our mothers, our daughters, our sisters, our wives-
The vaccine is certainly a very important part of that and it's a safe and effective vaccine, you cannot ask for anything better," said Dr. Rathore.
There has been a stigma associated with the vaccine because HPV is usually spread through sexual contact. Doctors hope this study shows people who may have any concerns that this is a cancer prevention vaccine that is safe and effective.