HealthDay News — According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 2 doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, rather than 3, can effectively protect younger teens against the virus.
The study was one of a number evaluated by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this year, which led to the CDC’s revised guidelines in October.
The research included 1518 young people, aged 9 to 26, who were vaccinated against HPV at 52 sites in 15 countries. Researchers administered 2 doses of HPV vaccine to teens aged 9 to 14, and 3 doses of the vaccine to older teens and young women.
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The researchers found that girls and boys in the younger age group achieved the same immunity with 2 doses 6 to 12 months apart as older teens and young women did on a 3-dose regimen over 6 months.
“With a simplified schedule and lower cost, it can be assumed [there would be] both higher coverage and improved compliance,” lead author Ole-Erik Iversen, MD, PhD, from the University of Bergen in Norway, told HealthDay.
The study was funded by Merck.
Reference
Iversen O, Miranda MJ, Ulied A, et al. Immunogenicity of the 9-Valent HPV Vaccine Using 2-Dose Regimens in Girls and Boys vs a 3-Dose Regimen in Women. JAMA. 2016. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.17615. [Epub ahead of print]
Markowitz LE, Meites E, Unger ER. Two vs Three Doses of Human Papillomavirus VaccineNew Policy for the Second Decade of the Vaccination Program. JAMA. 2016. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.16393. [Epub ahead of print]
