HPV Vaccination Also Benefits Mid-Adults

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a fundamental cause of various cancers, anogenital warts, and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis that vaccination can prevent.

Beginning in 2019, U.S. guidelines recommended shared clinical decision-making (SCDM) for HPV vaccination among adults aged 27–45.

Researchers recently conducted a narrative review of existing literature on HPV vaccination in this mid-adult population.

The Open Forum Infectious Diseases published this analysis on January 11, 2023, concluding the available evidence demonstrates that HPV vaccination in mid-adults is safe, efficacious, and likely to benefit both HPV-naïve mid-adults and those with previous infections.

These researchers found universal mid-adult HPV vaccination in the U.S. could avert 20,934–37,856 cancer cases over 100 years, costing $141,000–$1,471,000 per quality-adjusted life-year gained.

The wide variation in these estimates reflects uncertainties in sexual behavior, HPV natural history, and naturally acquired immunity.

'Greater awareness among clinicians and mid-adult patients and broad implementation of SCDM may accelerate progress toward eliminating HPV-associated cancers and other diseases,' wrote these researchers.

HPV vaccines are generally available at clinics and pharmacies in the U.S. during 2023.