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Study shows vaccines can prevent, but not treat HPV

Infection Control Monitor, August 17, 2007

New vaccines that prevent infection from two strains of the human papillomarvirus (HPV) that causes most cases of cervical cancer are not a treatment for women already infected with the virus, researchers have concluded.

In women already positive for HPV, vaccination does not reduce or eliminate the virus and should not be used to treat infections, concluded researchers in the August 15 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Researchers say the best approach is to vaccinate girls and women before they become sexually active and could contract the highly common, sexually transmitted virus. The study supports a recommendation in June from the CDC that girls 11 and 12 years of age be vaccinated.

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