HPV Vaccine Use Controversial

A recent article in The New York Times, Researchers Question Wide Use of HPV Vaccines presented some of the issues still surrounding widespread use of vaccines for the prevention of the human papillomavirus (HPV).

One concern raised in this article was whether the vaccines are worth their high cost. This is an especially important question for developing countries and even women and girls in the United States with little or no health insurance or Medicare coverage. A complete series (3 shots) of the vaccine cost between $400 and $1000 per person depending on the country and charges for doctor's office visits. Vaccines for other diseases are relatively inexpensive and save money by preventing costly diseases; however, the HPV vaccines seem to actually be costing the healthcare system money. The HPV vaccines might only be truly cost effective if they protect girls from cervical cancer for an entire lifetime. Unfortunately, there hasn't been enough research to prove that yet. For girls with sufficient healthcare coverage, there's every reason to consider vaccination to reduce the risk of cervical cancer. However, the case is not so clear where funding is scarce. Should this $400 to $1000 per girl be spent on other medical treatments or prevention that have already been proven to prevent disease and save lives? Pap smear screening and treatment in developed countries has already reduced death rates from cervical cancer to very low levels. Should funds be spent on more screening and treatment instead of HPV vaccines in developing countries untl further data is available? Would that be a better use of such limited funds for healthcare? Perhaps, at least for now.