Study: HPV rates falling amidst vaccinations

Promising new results from the CDC on Monday, as researchers announced the rates of HPV infection seemed to have dropped since the vaccine hit the market in 2006.

A study looked at four different strands of the virus. Two of them are reportedly responsible for 66 percent of cervical cancers in the U.S.

In just six years, researchers say the rate of infection overall among teenage girls have dropped from 11.5 percent to 4.3 percent. For women between the ages of 20 and 24, the rate has fallen from 18.5 percent to 12.1 percent.

Dr. James Cockey of the Wicomico County Health Department says this report shows promise in the vaccine.

“I think the biggest take home message from this is that it’s one more strong piece of evidence that HPV vaccine works.” Explains Dr. Cockey. “It should be a standard part of pediatric vaccines scheduled. It should not be something that people have to struggle with.”

Over the years, researchers say there has been a stigma associated with the vaccine. That’s because they say HPV is most commonly spread through sexual contact.