The HPV vaccine can now be used by men and women between the ages of 27-45.
This important announcement was made by the FDA, the official US agency for the control of vaccines and drugs.
The vaccine had so far been approved for vaccination of children and adults up to the age of 26 years.
The vaccine helps prevent cervical cancer and other tumors.
It also protects against the wart virus and the cancer of the anus, vulva, esophagus and penis.
It provides the body with protection from 9 different strains. These strains are responsible for causing the above cancers and warts.
HPV has many strains and is transmitted through sexual contact.
Therefore, most adults become infected with at least 1 strain of the virus at some point in their lifetime.
According to Dr. Peter Marks, director of research at the FDA, said this approval can now prevent, in a wider age range, diseases related to the wart virus.
New research - HPV Vaccine
The study was conducted over a period of 3.5 years, on 3,200 women aged from 27 to 45 years old.
The vaccine has been shown to be 88% effective in preventing persistent HPV infection. Genital warts, precancerous lesions of the vulva or vagina, precancerous lesions of the cervix and cervical cancer associated with the virus strains covered by the vaccine.
In men the efficacy of the vaccine was derived from clinical trial data between 150 men aged 27 to 45 years. They received 3 doses of the vaccine over a period of 6 months.
In addition, it appears from other data, the effectiveness of the vaccine in young men aged 16 to 26 years. Immunity extends (in women as well) to older ages.
The HPV vaccine should ideally be given at an age before a person becomes sexually active.
At older ages the vaccine protects against the 9 strains from which the adult has not yet become infected.
More specifically, if someone is infected with one of these strains, then the vaccine will protect them from the other eight.
