HPV-related cancer rates are rising. So are vaccine rates — just not fast
Cancers linked to the human papillomavirus have increased significantly over the last 15 years in the United States, with throat cancer now the most common HPV-related malignancy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday.
More than 43,000 people developed HPV-associated cancer in 2015, compared with about 30,000 in 1999, the CDC said.
At the same time, the CDC said, HPV vaccination rates are rising - a trend that could eventually curb the increase in cancer cases. But the vaccine rate is not rising fast enough, experts say. Nearly half of adolescents ages 13 to 17 in 2017 had received all the recom- mended doses for HPV vaccination, while two-thirds had received the first dose. For both groups, that was a five-percentage-point increase from the previous year. that children ages 11 to 12
“We are moving in the get two doses of the HPV right direction, but given vaccine, six to 12 months the fact that we have a safe apart. Those who get the first and effective vaccine, there’s dose after their 15th birthlittle reason why parents and day should get three shots. providers aren’t vaccinating Out s ide experts welevery single child,” said Roncomed the increased HPV ald DePinho, a former presvaccination rates but said ident of MD Anderson Can- much more improvement cer Center. is needed.
“To not take advantage of Larry Copeland, a gynea vaccine that can prevent cologic oncologist at The cancers is a lost opportunity James, The Ohio State Univerand a tragic one,” he added. sity Comprehensive Cancer
The agency said the inoc- Center, agreed, saying it was ulations could prevent 90 “not satisfactory at all” that percent of HPV-caused canmore than 50 percent of adocer cases — those that can be lescents have not completed directly attributed to HPV the HPV vaccine series. — every year. Since the vac“The medical community cine’s introduction a decade has to accept some blame ago, HPV infections and cer- here,” Copeland said, addvical precancers have fallen ing that some patients with significantly. But it can take HPV-related cervical cana long time to see the vaccer tell him that the vaccine cine’s benefits because many wasn’t recommended by their cancers take several years to doctors. “We have to look in develop after HPV infections the mirror. Pediatricians, pritake hold. mary-care doctors, come on,
The agency recommends let’s get with the program.”