February 15, 2007 – The Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of Canada (GOC) urges provincial governments to swiftly adopt a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program. These medical specialists recommend that Canadian girls and women aged 9 to 26 routinely receive the vaccine1.
HPV is a sexually transmitted infection, responsible for 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts. Infection with certain strains of HPV is associated with cervical cancer around the world2 and, to a lesser extent, cancers of the vulva, vagina, penis and anus3. Cervical cancer alone kills 290,000 women worldwide each year, including approximately 400 Canadian women.
The DD Dianne Miller, Head of Gynecology Oncology at the Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Center, says that “the majority of women who contract HPV will be able to fight the infection on their own, but in some, the infected cells will have suffered damage. changes that will lead to cervical cancer in the long term ”.
The results of clinical trials conducted over the past five years or so indicate that pharmaceutical companies are now able to manufacture effective vaccines against strains of HPV that are at risk of causing cancer. Vaccination has not only been shown to prevent HPV infections, but also to dramatically lower the risk of getting cervical cancer.4.5. The vaccines would be effective for at least three and a half years.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (in Canada) recently concluded that vaccination would be most effective in girls 9 to 13 years old, that is, before the onset of sexual activity, but that it would also be beneficial. in young women aged 14 to 26. The US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices issued its own guidelines last June. The Committee believes that all 11-year-old and 12-year-old girls should be vaccinated against HPV, with 9 and 10-year-olds being immunized at the discretion of the physician.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
According to Canadian press (PC).
1. Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of Canada. Gynecologist Oncologists Endorse NACI’s Position In Favor Of HPV Vaccination. [Consulté le 7 février 2007]. www.newswire.ca
2. Bosch FX, Qiao YL, Castellsague X. CHAPTER 2 The epidemiology of human papillomavirus infection and its association with cervical cancer. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2006 Nov; 94 Suppl 1: S8-S21.
3. Denny L, Ngan HY. Section B: Malignant manifestations of HPV infection Carcinoma of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, and penis. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2006 Nov; 94 Suppl 1: S50-5.
4. Villa LL, Costa RL, et al. High sustained efficacy of a prophylactic quadrivalent human papillomavirus types 6/11/16/18 L1 virus-like particle vaccine through 5 years of follow-up. Br J Cancer. 2006 Dec 4; 95 (11): 1459-66. Epub 2006 Nov 21.
5. Mao C, Koutsky LA, et al. Efficacy of human papillomavirus-16 vaccine to prevent cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Jan; 107 (1): 18-27.
