The Importance of Vaccination Against HPV

Abstract

The human papillomavirus is a DNA virus that is involved in the pathogenesis of several benign and malignant lesions. Although numerous types of HPV exist, vaccines currently target HPV’s 6, 11, 16, and 18, which are the most commonly implicated in verrucae and oral-genital neoplasms. Although the HPV vaccine has been recommended as part of the vaccination schedule in adolescents for several years, widespread inoculation has not yet become common practice. It is imperative that vaccination be more broadly instituted to decrease the incidence of HPV related lesions in both males and females