[ad_1]
The human papillomavirus vaccine has been recommended for girls since 2007, and recently for boys. What protects the vaccine, why does the vaccination rate remain low and how can it be increased? Interview with Nobel laureate Harald zur Hausen
zur Hausen, you have been awarded the Nobel Prize for your discovery of the link between human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer of the uterus. This laid the foundation for the HPV vaccine, which protects millions of women. Now, their discovery has not yet seen another late success: Recently, the HPV vaccine of the Standing Committee on Immunization (STIKO) is also recommended for boys aged 9 to 14 years. What do you say to that?
I am very happy about this. But you have already touched on the subject, which has also made me impatient in recent years: belatedly. The fact that the HPV vaccine for boys is now also approved in Germany was a good time. In Australia, Austria and the Netherlands, for example, the HPV vaccine for boys has been introduced for a long time.
Certain types of human papillomaviruses promote the development of cervical cancer of the uterus. Why should boys be vaccinated?
It is true that for the human papilloma virus, the link with cervical cancer is proven. But there is every reason to believe that HPV also causes cancers such as oropharyngeal cancer or bad cancer. In total, about 1,000 men die from HPV in Germany.
Prof. Harald zur Hausen received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2008 for his research on the link between viruses and cancer of the cervix of the uterus. Image: DKFZ / T. Schwerdt
How can a virus trigger so many types of cancer?
Viruses are very diverse in severity and effect. This is demonstrated by the fact that there are currently more than 400 types of human papillomavirus, which colonize mainly the skin and mucous membranes. Most of these types are so-called low-risk viruses, that is, they colonize the skin or mucous membranes, but they have virtually no carcinogenic effects. Among the HPV types in the bad area, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has also identified twelve types, including HPV 16 and HPV 18, as high-risk types. These high-risk HPV types can usually induce changes in body cells that lead to cancer precursors and possibly cancer. Incidentally, it takes an average of 15 to 15 years for women with cervical cancer
How to explain this?
Other changes in the genetic makeup of the infected cell result in cancer. sure. In other words, if you vaccinate girls, then you protect them against cancer 15-30 years after the infection. But the vaccine does not only concern the protection of the vaccinated itself, but also in the medium and long term the protection of the flock. And the introduction of the vaccination recommendation for boys, of course, is welcome.
Herd protection in this case means that vaccination of boys also prevents them from infecting girls.
This plays a major role, among other things because Boys and young men have more badual contact than women of the same age group. In particular, they spread human papillomaviruses. If they are vaccinated, they protect not only themselves but also their partners.
For girls, the HPV vaccine has been recommended in Germany since 2007. Nevertheless, the vaccination rate in the majority of federal states is now less than 40% per year. Why that?
There are at least two reasons why the vaccination rate is far too low. There is once again the skepticism of vaccination, which unfortunately is still common in the German population. Of all, the HPV vaccine is considered particularly safe. Australian data show that at about 100,000 doses, only one serious side effect was detected, a well controlled allergic reaction
What is the other reason why the vaccination rate is so low?
Unfortunately, vaccination is still too unknown. And also with gynecologists. A large proportion of women and pediatricians do not even approach the vaccine at the expected age. Here, there should be more information from the health authorities. But there is a much more effective way to increase immunization coverage: school programs. At the beginning of the year I was involved in such a program in three schools in Hesse, there was also a patient, who was being treated for cancer of the cervix, talked about. Harald zur Hausen, chairman of the board of directors of the German Cancer Research Center from 1983 to 2003, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2008 for his research on the link between viruses and cervical cancer. Uterus
. also great time "- HPV vaccine recommended for boys (Interview DKFZ)
Nobel Prize in the Helmholtz Association
