Commentary

Long-Term Follow-Up Emphasizes HPV Vaccination Importance


 

This transcript has been edited for clarity.

I want to briefly discuss a critically important topic that cannot be overly emphasized. It is the relevance, the importance, the benefits, and the outcome of HPV vaccination.

The paper I’m referring to was published in Pediatrics in October 2023. It’s titled, “Ten-Year Follow-up of 9-Valent Human Papillomavirus Vaccine: Immunogenicity, Effectiveness, and Safety.”

Let me emphasize that we’re talking about a 10-year follow-up. In this particular paper and analysis, 301 boys — I emphasize boys — were included and 971 girls at 40 different sites in 13 countries, who received the 9-valent vaccine, which includes HPV 16, 18, and seven other types.

These investigators demonstrated that the seropositivity rate 10 years after vaccination remained high for all nine types they looked at. Most importantly, there was not a single case. Not one. Let me repeat this: There was not a single case of high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia, or worse, or condyloma in either males or females. There was not a single case in over 1000 individuals with a follow-up of more than 10 years.

It is difficult to overstate the magnitude of the benefit associated with HPV vaccination for our children and young adults on their risk of developing highly relevant, life-changing, potentially deadly cancers.

For those of you who are interested in this topic — which should include almost all of you, if not all of you — I encourage you to read this very important follow-up paper, again, demonstrating the simple, overwhelming magnitude of the benefit of HPV vaccination. I thank you for your attention.

Dr. Markman is a professor in the department of medical oncology and therapeutics research, City of Hope, Duarte, California, and president of medicine and science, City of Hope Atlanta, Chicago, and Phoenix. He disclosed ties with GlaxoSmithKline; AstraZeneca.

A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.

Recommended Reading

The HPV vaccine: Time for ObGyn physicians to up our game
MDedge ObGyn
New RSV vaccine will cut hospitalizations, study shows
MDedge ObGyn
News & Perspectives from Ob.Gyn. News
MDedge ObGyn
How clinicians can prepare for and defend against social media attacks
MDedge ObGyn
Some reasons to get off the fence about COVID booster
MDedge ObGyn
The 2024 Adult Vaccine Schedule Changes Are Here
MDedge ObGyn
Rubella Screening in Pregnancy No Longer Recommended in Italy
MDedge ObGyn
HPV Vaccine Shown to Be Highly Effective in Girls Years Later
MDedge ObGyn
RNA Vaccines: Risk for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Clarified
MDedge ObGyn
HPV Positive Test: How to Address Patients’ Anxieties
MDedge ObGyn