HPV vaccine from 9 years old in girls

Girls should be vaccinated against HPV on the recommendation of Stiko earlier

08/26/2014

Human papillomaviruses (HP viruses or HPV) are pathogens that can cause inflammation and skin lesions. In most cases, these pass through sexual or oral sex in the skin or mucous membrane and multiply there in the interior of the cells. An infection usually goes unnoticed and heals on its own. However, some of the viruses also persisted, causing cell changes that can develop into a malignant tumor over time. To protect girls and women from getting infected, the Standing Committee for Vaccination (Stiko) currently recommends vaccination at the age of 9 to 14 years.

40 types „genital HPV“ known
Because human papillomaviruses (HPV or HPV) are prevalent, most men and women are at least once infected with HPV during their lifetime. The fours can be transmitted with any intimate skin contact, with an infection usually goes unnoticed, causes no discomfort and also heals by itself. About 40 types of HPV are sexually transmitted and will therefore „genital HPV“ called. These are divided into so-called „Low-risk types“ (nrHPV) and „High-risk types“ (HrHPV). During low risk HPV „just“ cause unpleasant but harmless warts in the genital area (genital warts), "can be caused by high-risk HPV cell changes that develop in rare cases over the years, a malignant tumor of the cervix (cervical carcinoma)". Twelve hrHPV types are considered to be particularly dangerous here, the most common types being types 16 and 18.

Vaccination useful at the age of 9 to 14 years
Even condoms can not reliably protect against HPV because they can not cover all potentially affected areas in the genital area. Girls and women should therefore be vaccinated before the first sexual intercourse. However, since this time is often missed, the vaccination on recommendation of the Standing Committee on Vaccination (Stiko) of the Robert Koch Institute in the future should be much earlier than before. Accordingly, girls should not be vaccinated only at the age of 12 to 17 years, but already at the age of 9 to 14 years. „In Germany, the average age of first sexual intercourse is 15, "said Hans-Iko Huppertz, director of the Children's Hospital Bremen-Mitte „Mirror online“. Accordingly, the right time of vaccination is particularly important because „Since the vaccine is no longer effective, if an infection already exists, it is important to vaccinate before. "But in the HPV vaccine, there is apparently still a lot of catching up in Germany, because according to the RKI get depending on the age so far only between 30 and 45 percent of the young women are vaccinated, so for expert Huppertz, Stiko's recommendation brings new hope: „The younger children are often still in the care of paediatricians, who can also take the parents' fears of vaccination.“

Vaccination appears to be more effective in younger girls than in older ones
Accordingly, the recommendation of the Stiko from Huppertz 'point of view as "very useful" to consider. Also, because research would suggest that vaccination is more effective in younger girls than in older ones. Accordingly, 13- or 14-year-old girls would also need „just“ two doses of the vaccines Gardasil and Cervarix, whereas in the older three would be necessary. If the vaccine is given until the 18th birthday, it can be effective against the two „High-Risk“-Viruses 16 and 18 protect, which in most cases are responsible for the development of cervical cancer. However, even a vaccine does not offer 100% safety - therefore, experts repeatedly advise to take the usual screening for cervical cancer.

Critics point to uncertain data situation
This is also one of the main criticisms, because skeptics fear that women feel safe with a vaccine and thus could become reckless. In addition, there are some view of some critics still no reliable data on successes of the vaccine, because this will be carried out only for several years. However, as malignant tumors often develop after many years, it is difficult to get accurate figures on prevented cancer cases. Nevertheless, initial studies seem to show a success of HPV vaccine: For example, had one from the pharmaceutical companies „GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals“ funded study with more than 17,000 participants revealed that a vaccine had protected one in a hundred girls or young women from a risky mucosal change on the cervix within four years. „Population-wide vaccination, which includes the HPV 16/18 vaccine and high coverage in early adolescence, could potentially have the potential to significantly reduce the incidence of cervical cancer“, so the scientists of „HPV PATRICIA Study Group "to Gary Dubin in an article in the journal „The Lancet“. (No)