A study conducted by the American Association for Cancer Research found a lack of awareness about the link between cancer and HPV. The study claims that HPV, which is a sexually transmitted disease, could also be a reason for triggering anal, oral, cervical, and penile cancer. Unawareness of the link between the two, the pace of vaccination against the virus is also very slow.
The study also highlights the worrying fact that there has been a 7% decline in awareness about HPV and cancer link from 2014 to 2020. Furthermore, only 30% of respondents who participated in the survey knew that HPV could lead to cancers such as anal, throat, or penile cancer. The government’s target rate of 80% for teenagers between the ages of 10 and 19 has been significantly missed due to the low level of vaccination uptake caused by the possible risks of HPV.
Lead researcher of the study Eric Adjei Boakye claims that the HPV vaccine might prevent over 90% of cancers that are linked to HPV. The public’s lack of knowledge about the vaccine’s effectiveness to prevent cancer contributes to the subpar performance of the vaccination rate. Boakye indicated that boosting vaccination rates would be possible by raising general awareness of the HPV vaccine.
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In 2006, the CDC approved the use of the vaccine for women between 9 to 26 to prevent oral, penile, and anal cancers. Later, in 2009, the CDC permitted vaccination for men between 11 to 22 years of age. The CDC suggests youngsters must get two shots of the vaccine before they turn 15 years old.
Over 42 million Americans, or over 13 million people annually, are considered to carry at least one HPV strain, according to the CDC. It is essential to spread awareness of the advantages of the HPV vaccine since the virus can result in genital warts and has been connected to numerous types of cancer.
Lack of awareness about the linkage between HPV and some types of cancers is a root cause behind the minimal vaccination rate. There is a need to predominantly make general people aware of the relation between HPV and cancer. Only in this case, people would voluntarily come forward for the vaccination, which would eventually boost the vaccination rate. Therefore, education on public health awareness deserves top priority.
