cervical cancer vaccination

[mellowtigger]

I'm disappointed that I have only 1 female on my Friends list and none who have friended me.  (I think.)  I disapprove of that status.  I do, however, have several science geeks listening, so hopefully someone can provide a thorough answer to this question.

I've been seeing commercials on television recently about vaccinations for women to provide them some immunity against cervical cancer.  Why isn't this vaccine being marketed at all humans?  I assume that women are getting infected by men, so why not immunize their disease vector as well?

At first glance, it seems like immunizing against the flu but only for people whose last names begin with the letters A-L.  What gives?

Comments

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

My understanding is that while both men and women get infected with HPV - it's quite rare for men to actually experience any problems from it, while it induces cervical cancer in women. I don't know how expensive the vaccine is to produce or what the capacity is, but I would imagine that they're going after the people who are most likely to suffer the worst consequences first.

There's also the "controversy" from right-wing-nuts about a vaccine for a "sexually transmitted disease" - at least in women, there's the argument that it can lead to a deadly illness - there isn't generally that argument for men.

[dr-scott.livejournal.com]

The tendency in public health has been to direct a costly new vaccine to those who appear to benefit most directly from it (in this case, pre-sexual young women.) I have heard rumblings about using it for young men as well, and epidemiologically speaking it may eventually make sense to keep total infection rates down by vaccinating broad swaths of young people. Just as the flu vaccine started out recommended to those who might suffer the worst from a bout of flu but is now being recommended for the most-likely-to-transmit, children and caregivers, and eventually everyone.

[bitterlawngnome.livejournal.com]

also, of course, "the usual suspects" are on about how providing young women with this vaccine is going to make then more sexually promiscuous.

[arkanjil.livejournal.com]

Here in Texas, some one on high (i think it was the governor), actually mandated the vaccination for school girls, which in turn prompted an enormous firestorm among the fundies here, who thought he was promoting promiscuity and otherwise interfering with God's apparent plan to punish fornicators right where it counts.

the proposal was withdrawn...

[bigsockgrrl.livejournal.com]

I participated in a research study for a herpes vaccine done by folks who had just finished a study on the HPV vaccine. The herpes vaccine is also only for female bodied folks at this time. I asked the reason for this (in the case of the herpes vaccine). They said that the vaccine works best on a mucus membrane because the antibodies need body fluids to swim in. Since vulvas have a larger mucus membrane surface area than penises, the herpes vaccine they are testing is more effective for vulva bearing folks. I don't know if the same is true for the HPV vaccine, but it's possible.

Plus, the most important reasoning for the vaccine politically seems to be as a preventative for cervical cancer. Folks without a cervix cannot benefit from that effect of vaccination.

The thing that I think is strangest about the limitations on these vaccines is the focus on young female bodied folks. What am I chopped liver? Do they assume I'm infected because I'm over 30?

PS Terry, I found you (and your webpage) through pantryslut's journal. I might friend you, unless you have an objection.

[mellowtigger]

No, I certainly wouldn't object. I tend to use my Friends list more as a "subscription" list anyway, where I can compile various journals that I want to read into a single page. It seems strange to me that other people don't use them that same way. :)

(I'm pondering suggestions to offer to livejournal to help clarify this kind of stuff.)

[bigsockgrrl.livejournal.com]

doesn't seem strange to me at all, since that's what I do, too. :)