Although the vaccine against the cancer-causing human papillomavirus is most effective in children, people ages 27 to 45 can reduce their risk of cancer and genital warts when vaccinated. This was reported by health news.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection. It affects most people in the world. HPV is responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer, as well as many tumors in men, including half of penile cancers (which may require partial or complete removal of the penis).
Previous studies have shown the vaccine to be more than 90% effective when vaccinated between ages nine and 12. For this reason, most countries only recommend the vaccine to people under 27 years of age. At this age, most people have already been exposed to HPV, and it is not cost-effective to give them a dose of vaccine that will not benefit them.
However, there are 150 strains of HPV and 12 of them are high risk. It is unlikely that the 26-year-old patient was infected with all dangerous strains. Vaccinating adults can reduce the risk of infection and prevent many cases of cancer and genital warts, said Kate White, an assistant professor of gynecology and obstetrics at Boston University.
Previous scientists I learnedHow smokers over 50 can reduce their risk of lung cancer by 39%.