Program Overview
In the United States, human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common newly acquired sexually transmitted infection. HPVs are classified into 2 groups according to their cancer-causing potential: high-risk (ie, oncogenic) types and low-risk types. Approximately 15 HPV types are categorized as high risk and are essential causes of precancerous cervical lesions and cervical cancer. HPV 16 and 18, the 2 high-risk HPV types most often implicated in precancerous lower genital tract lesions and female genital cancers, cause 70% of all cervical cancers. High-risk HPV types are also implicated in other anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. HPV types 6 and 11, the 2 low-risk HPV types most commonly implicated in genital warts and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), a rare but potentially fatal disease, cause approximately 90% of genital warts, approximately 80% of RRP cases, and low-grade cervical dysplasias detected by abnormal Pap test results.
Prophylactic HPV vaccination is expected to reduce the incidence of cervical lesions and abnormal cervical cytology, as well as the number of procedures and the treatment costs associated with the management of HPV-related diseases. A quadrivalent HPV vaccine that protects against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A bivalent HPV vaccine that protects against HPV types 16 and 18 remains under FDA review.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that the quadrivalent vaccine be administered to all 11- and 12-year-old girls, girls and women 13 to 26 years of age who have not yet been vaccinated or have not completed the vaccination series, and girls as young as 9 years, at the clinician's discretion. In order to maximize the benefit of any immunization program, clinicians must consider either universal (age-based) or risk-based approaches to vaccinating their patients. To maximize the public health benefits of HPV vaccination, recent studies have assessed the utility of a universal approach vs a risk-based approach.
This activity will review the burden of HPV-related disease, the latest clinical data on HPV vaccines, the anticipated benefits of widespread HPV vaccination, and the utility of different vaccine implementation strategies.
