HPV Vaccination Rates Still Low
By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - This is one of those good news and bad news scenarios. The cancer death rate continues to decline including lung, colon, breast, and prostate cancer. There has been a decline for twenty years. However, the death rates from melanoma and cancers of the pancreas, liver, and uterus all appear to be on the rise.
There is also a disturbing trend with cancers associated with hpv, the human papilloma virus. Hpv-related esophageal and anal cancers are up.
What is disturbing is that and the vaccination rates for hpv, which could make a dent in those numbers, remains low.
In 2010, fewer than half of girls aged 13-17 had received even just one dose of the vaccine against hpv, while only 32% had received the recommended 3 doses. The American Academy of Pediatrics has since recommended that teenage boys also be vaccinated.
