1. Human Papilloma Virus
Amy Baker

2. Disease Facts sexually transmitted disease affecting 80% of Americans
Often will show no symptoms
The virus is responsible for cervical cancer in women
Cervical cancer is the third most common cause of cancer overall and the leading cause of cancer related deaths in women

3. How to detect HPV?
A pap smear can be used as an effective test for HPV in women
virus typing is done when an abnormal pap is detected to determine which of the 40 types of HPV is present
HPV-16, HPV-18, HPV-31, HPV-35, HPV-39, HPV-45, HPV-51, HPV-52, and HPV-58 are the “high risk” or precancerous strains

5. The Vaccine and this vaccine protects against 4 of the most
prevalent serotypes:
HPV 16 and 18,
and HPV 6 and 11
two strains of HPV protected against are implicated in over 70% of cervical cancers

6. The Vaccine
second two types are implicated in 90% of all genital warts
vaccine is suggested for girls between the ages of 9 and 26
administered as 3 injections over 6 months
most effective when given before a woman becomes sexually active
current price of the vaccine is $120 for each injection

7. Requiring the Vaccine
school aged children are required to obtain numerous vaccines: Diptheria, Pertussis, Influenza, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella, and Polio
Gardasil, a 75% effective vaccine, when administered to approximately 2 million adolescent girls could prevent 224,000 HPV infections
Pockets of unvaccinated populations could harbor the disease and prevent eradication

8. Opposition to Requiring the Vaccine
The main opposition to the vaccine was by religious and conservative groups
Some felt this gave young women “the license to engage in premarital sex”National Cervical Cancer Coalition
Some “wished for fornicators to be punished with STDs and even cancer”
New scientist

9. Conclusion
Cervical cancer causes approximately one percent of all cancer deaths in America
Human papilloma virus is indicated in 70% of the cervical cancers detected each year
This vaccine could possibly eradicate a cancer causing virus and diminish overall health care cost
Should ideology and a sense of personal virtue stand in the way of protecting children from a possible fatal disease later in life?