Two major trials sponsored by Merck, the manufacturer of the new human papillomavirus vaccine, have found it almost completely effective in preventing cervical cancers among more than 17,500 young women. An editorial alongside the report in the May 10 New England Journal of Medicine notes that although the trials did not include pre-teen girls, vaccination before the onset of sexual activity “seems to be preferable”.
In the same issue of the journal, a separate study links a 15-fold increase in risk of oropharyngeal carcinoma with one subtype of HPV that is controlled with the new vaccine. The link has been suspected for some time. Would the vaccine also be useful for people at special risk of throat cancer, such as smokers and drinkers?
SearchMedica organizes the results into clinically useful categories to speed your search for relevant information:
Clinical Practice Guidelines
Quickly find the recent guidelines relevant to the new findings.
Practical Articles and News
Read about the debate surrounding the recommendation to vaccinate girls at age 11 or 12.
Posted by Cranky Aged Mama
