General Medicine

» redback - Tips to Decrease Your Cancer Risk

I think Paul has mostly answered your question. I don't think it can be assumed all women have HPV let alone the four (out of over 100) HPV strains that the vaccine restricts itself to.

My understanding is that HPV is present as an almost 'normal' -consequence of sexual activity ie in about 75% of sexually active women. An authoritative site, more objective than TV ads:
http://www.breastscreen.info.au/internet...

There needs to be some statistical caution with global percentages (average %) across the age range 11 to 26. And when we try to isolate greater risks on the likelihood of HPV-related cervical cancer or the likelihood of other HPV "harm'.

"..Does the vaccine prevent cancer all the time...?"

Within the research criteria, a 100% success rate. Fantastic odds given the scale of the research...12,000 women aged 12-26 over 13 countries over 2 years.

Here's the official info on side effects etc:
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2...

There are universal cautions for all vaccinations so Gardasil is not unique.

Paul...even well informed people baulk at vaccinations because of a risk of adverse effects. Childhood immunisations is one example here despite it being linked to a 'carrot' of government payments. Even our Federal Health Minister stated he wouldn't be rushing out to get his 3 teenage daughters vaccinated with Gardasil. Go figure!

I'm probably over-killing with hotlinks but this one covers the ethics of compulsory vaccinations from a medical POV:
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full...

"... isn't it possible that it is targeting the very same persons who would not have developed cervical cancer in the first place?"

That would be a universal program. My understanding of the definitions is this is a selective program, not universal. It targets healthy subjects but most at risk. In some situations, maybe it should sadly be available to 9-year olds?

-- posted by redback