Current trends and future prospective of human papillomavirus vaccination - Need, impact, and challenges

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of viruses that commonly produce skin or mucous membrane growths. It is most often transmitted through the sexual route and is a common etiological factor for as many as six types of cancers, but majorly, the cervical cancer; implying the impact of cervical cancer worldwide could be reduced by widespread immunization with the HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine, in two separate doses, can be given starting from 9 years of age, and is highly recommended for females of (or entering) the sexually active age group; it is considered to be very safe and effective, as reported after 12 years of monitoring and research. Although HPV vaccination is the approved public health intervention to reduce the risk of developing HPV-associated cancers, it is yet to see a large-scale implementation. In this article, we discuss about the vaccine, its benefits, the reasons regarding its unacceptance, and whether it is merely an adjunct preventive measure or a necessary one.