The New England Journal of Medicine raised some serious questions about the effectiveness and safety of the cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil.
While Gardasil did block almost 100% of infections by two strains of HPV, it actually only reduced the incidence of cervical cancer precursors by 17%. Since there are other strains of HPV, Gardasil may be giving a false sense of security by allowing these other strains to flourish.
Another issue is the length of the Merck study, which sought to demonstrate the vaccine’s effectiveness. The study only lasted three years, yet HPV is a disease that can take decades to develop.
A safer alternative to the vaccine for young women is to use condoms when having sexual relations. The Journal reported that condoms alone reduced the incidence of HPV by 70%.
