A large-scale clinical trial conducted by the National Cancer Institute found that one dose of an HPV vaccine is just as protective against infection as the traditional 2-dose regimen. The randomized study, which enrolled more than 20,000 girls aged 12 to 16 years, compared the effectiveness of 1 and 2 does of the bivalent Cervarix (GlaxoSmithKline) vaccine and the 9-valent Gardasil 9 (Merck) vaccine. Participants were assigned to receive either dosing regimen, and both groups were monitored every 6 months over a 5-year period. The results demonstrated that 1 dose of either vaccine provided comparable protection to 2 doses with vaccine efficacy exceeding 97%. Additionally, there were no significant differences in persistent HPV 16/18 infections between the groups. These findings were shared in advance of a scheduled vote by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which may ultimately recommend a single-dose schedule for HPV, according to meeting coverage from MedPage Today.Â
Faster and easier for patients: Simplifying the vaccination regimen could help boost uptake, particularly in low-resource settings, while increasing protection against several types of cancer, including cervical, anal, penile, and certain head and neck cancers.
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