The HPV vaccine is not a cure- all as promoted.

1. The vaccine has been shown to produce an antibody response in 100 per cent of women (15-55 years of age) for the two common strains of the virus. The studies to validate the effectiveness of the vaccine were limited to showing the vaccine prevents pre-cancerous changes in the cervix, not cancer itself. The actual effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing cancer in women as they age is unknown.

2. One quarter of new cases of invasive cervical cancer occur in women age 65 and older. [Proc West Pharmacology Society 2005;48:154-6] The vaccine was tested in a target population age 15-55 years.

3. Vaccinating women and men has little benefit over vaccinating women alone. It is estimated that vaccinating 90% of young women before sexual debut has the potential to decrease type-specific papilloma virus cervical cancer incidence by 91%. [PLoS Medicine 2006 May;3(5):e138]

4. However, because the vaccine is not foolproof, women still must be urged to undergo periodic pap smears. The vaccine will not save health care dollars spent for screenings and pap smears.

5. Furthermore, while mass mandated vaccination of 9-year old girls is being advocated, it is unknown whether vaccination prior to first sexual contact will result in a reduction in overall incidence of cervical cancer since frequent sexual contacts will likely infect women with one of the less common strains of the virus. The vaccine may be ineffective in the long run.

6. In the US the cervical cancer/papilloma virus vaccine also may not bring about a significant decline in cervical cancer mortality rates because so many women undergo early detection of precancerous lesions and surgical hysterectomy. One in three American women will undergo hysterectomy in their lifetime.

7. The high cost of the vaccine (~$360) is prohibitive for most of the world where 98.5% of the cervical cancer deaths occur. It is unlikely such an expensive vaccine will make any kind of dent in worldwide cervical cancer death rates.

8. There is not enough critical examination of this vaccine. News headlines quote the 99-100% effectiveness of the vaccine. These headlines are based upon misleading studies. For example, one study reports 100% effectiveness of the vaccine among 755 women age 16-23 years over a 3.5 year period. But the authors of this study narrowly chose to emphasize the superlative effectiveness of the vaccine against one dominant strain of the virus (human papilloma virus 16). Buried in the data of the report is the effectiveness of the vaccine in preventiong precancerous lesions (called cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) for any type of papilloma virus – only a 52% reduction overall. Furthermore, when researchers examined the effect of vaccine on abnormal Pap rates (for unexplained reasons, this data was not published), they observed no statistically significant difference in the incidence of abnormal Pap tests among placebo and vaccine recipients. [Obstetrics Gynecology 2006 Jan; 107(1):18-27]

9. Human papilloma viral infection is not always progressive. Certain controllable factors can result in clearance of viral infection following an abnormal Pap smear. These include good nutrition (consumption of vegetables) and avoidance of tampons. [Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers Prevention 2005 May;14(5):1149-56]

10. Since vaccinated women are still at risk for cervical cancer caused by human papilloma viral infection, they need to boost their immune system defenses with nutrients obtained from the diet and supplements. Women with lower circulating levels of antioxidants and folic acid (vitamin B9) are 7.5 times more likely to exhibit precancerous cervical lesions. [European Journal Gynaecology Oncology 1997; 18 (6):526-30] Women who consume more vitamin C-rich foods (example: papaya) are less likely to experience persistent papilloma virus infection. [Journal Infectious Diseases 2003 Nov 15; 188(10):1508-16] Folic acid is effective against this virus even among already infected women. [Cancer Research 2004 Dec 1;64(23):8788-93] Nutrition works against all 14 strains of the virus, while the vaccine only works against 2.

11. A study conducted at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine among 5378 women with confirmed pre-cancerous lesions of the cervix compared to 5366 women with no history of abnormal pap smears, found the risk for an abnormal pap smear was increased by 21 times for women with multiple strains of the virus and 62 times for viral strain #16. However, there were controlling nutritional factors. Women with the highest levels of vitamin C and E intake, which was only attainable through the use of dietary supplements, exhibited a 52-85% reduction in risk for an abnormal pap smear (52% reduction for vitamin C, 85% reduction for vitamin E). [International Journal Cancer 1998 Nov 23; 78 (5): 594-99] These numbers approach or exceed the overall effectiveness of vaccines, while offering broader protection against all viral strains.

12. Because women are still at risk for infection and abnormal pap smears even following vaccination, the advice to limit the number of sexual partners still stands as a valid approach to limiting cervical cancer as well as other transmitted diseases such as Chlamydia, herpes and HIV, for which there are no vaccines.

Bill Sardi, President Knowledge of Health, Inc. San Dimas, California USA