News, research, and opinion on HPV vaccines

While the amount of information and discussion about HPV vaccines continues to surpass all other vaccine issues combined, we'll periodically put together a post noting some of what comes to us that's of value for those looking for further info...

• Vaccine supplement -- Late last month, the international journal Vaccine published a special issue devoted exclusively to HPV vaccines. The 264-page issue (Vol. 24, Supplement 3) is beyond impressive, including a who's who of vaccine researchers and policymakers exploring virtually every imaginable aspect of HPV science and policy. Included are papers on immunology, epidemiology, public health, developing countries issues, social/behavioral aspects of vaccination, and many more. Abstracts are free, but a subscription (or access through a library) is necessary to view the full text of any paper. The perfect launch point for anyone interested in examining the medical literature on HPV vaccines.

• HPV Today -- An international newsletter devoted to all aspects of HPV infection and treatment, vaccines have (understandably) received considerable attention in recent issues. The current edition includes an interview with Harvard's Sue Goldie on decision science and what it reveals about HPV vaccine policy options.

• "Benefits of new vaccine outweigh ethics concerns" -- That's the title of an op-ed by our colleague Anita Allen in her regular column, "The Moralist", in Sunday's Newark Star-Ledger. Allen, a contributor to the Ethics of Vaccines Project, writes,

"New immunization programs always raise legitimate ethical concerns, and the recently proposed cervical cancer vaccine programs are no different. But the particular ethical concerns raised by the HPV vaccine should not stand in the way of public acceptance. The potential health benefits of the vaccine are enormous."