Updated
Updated · WMTV · Jun 9
FDA Marks 20 Years of HPV Vaccine Approval as Wisconsin Full-Series Uptake Tops 50%
Updated
Updated · WMTV · Jun 9

FDA Marks 20 Years of HPV Vaccine Approval as Wisconsin Full-Series Uptake Tops 50%

2 articles · Updated · WMTV · Jun 9

Summary

  • Monday marks 20 years since the FDA approved the HPV vaccine, which is used to prevent certain HPV-linked cancers including some cervical cancers.
  • HPV spreads through intimate skin-to-skin contact, and UW Health says cancers associated with the virus have dropped significantly since the vaccine's 2006 approval.
  • Just over 50% of Wisconsin teens ages 13 to 18 have completed the full HPV vaccine series, according to UW Health pediatrician Dr. Megan Yanny.
  • The shot was first offered to girls ages 9 to 26, then expanded to boys and later to adults up to age 45, but pediatricians say coverage still needs to move closer to 100%.

Insights

As throat cancer surges in men, are HPV vaccination campaigns missing their most critical new audience?
Why do some US states achieve high HPV vaccination rates while others lag decades behind public health goals?
With Merck settling 200+ Gardasil lawsuits, how can parents weigh the vaccine's benefits against alleged risks?