Public health officials inform about new HPV protection

  • Published
  • By Maj. William Reynolds
  • 31st Medical Group
Aviano Air Base, Italy --  Most public health professionals know it's important to share information about the Human Papilloma Virus, more commonly known as HPV, because of its prevalent nature and the consequences if left untreated. 

HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that infects both males and females. There are about 40 different types of HPV. Some types cause genital warts, or worse, cervical cancer. According to the Center of Disease Control, every year in the United States more than 10,000 women get cervical cancer and 3,700 die from it. 

Millions of Americans are infected by HPV every year, and yet, most people are not aware of the infection. Most of the time, there are no noticeable symptoms. 

Since this virus is a sexually transmitted infection, there are ways to protect against getting HPV. 

The best way to prevent against HPV is to avoid sexual contact. However, sexually active individuals should use a barrier method such as condoms, although this method does not offer 100 percent protection against any sexually transmitted infections. 

As a result, Advancements of Science and Technology developed a vaccine called Gardasil which was licensed by the Food and Drug Administration June 8, 2006.
Gardasil has been developed to prevent cervical cancer and other diseases in females caused by certain types of genital HPV. The vaccine is recommended for all females between the ages of 9- to 26-years-old. 

Gardasil offers protection against various types of HPV which together cause 70 percent of cervical cancers. This vaccination is a highly effective and relatively painless way to prevent against HPV. It is given through a series of three shots over a six-month period.
For members who would like to receive Gardasil, the immunization clinic is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday on a walk-in basis. 

Additional information can be found on the CDC Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/sdt/hpv/, through a Primary Care Manager at Ext. 5000, or at the 31st Medical Group immunizations clinic.