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Does the vaccine benefit you if you've already been infected?

giantg2 1y ago
I've heard of it being administered post exposure as a way to help the body fight the existing infection. Seemed a little odd when I first heard it as HPV should clear on it's own.
- Fomite 1y ago
  The key is you want it to clear as quickly as possible.
abirch 1y ago
There are multiple strains of HPV and most people haven't been infected with all of the strains. from https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/by_the_way_doctor_should_i_get_the_hpv_vaccine_if_im_already_infected https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/by_th...
- mrheosuper 1y ago
  Does the vaccine work against all strains ?
  - epistasis 1y ago
    It has only been targeted against the strains known to cause cancer. I haven't looked but I would guess getting all strains would have been a greater challenge, and would not have greatly increased uptake of the vaccine. The false perception that it's a vaccine that will encourages unprotected sex has already greatly hindered adoption in the US.
  - Fomite 1y ago
    No, it's targeted against those most associated with cancer.
Fomite 1y ago
Potentially, yes. HPV infections are cleared over time, and there are many strains of HPV.
- everdrive 1y ago
  That's really interesting, and from that I would assume that the risk of cervical (or other cancers) from HPV is associated with how often someone is reinfected? ie, someone who got HPV once in college doesn't have HPV their whole life? And potentially has a lower cancer risk than someone who is repeatedly re-infected? Am I understanding that correctly?
  - Fomite 1y ago
    > someone who got HPV once in college doesn't have HPV their whole life? Doesn't necessarily have HPV their whole life - time-to-clearance is somewhat variable. And yes, both slower clearance and just more infections are both associated with increased risk.
  - pitpatagain 1y ago
    https://www.hpvworld.com/articles/the-frequency-of-hpv-infection-worldwide/ https://www.hpvworld.com/articles/the-frequency-of-hpv-infec... It's incredibly prevalent, but most people clear it within a couple years, and won't even know that they had it. The time to clear it is just variable and depends on your body's immune response, the longer you go without clearing it the higher the cancer risk.
tialaramex 1y ago
In a sense no, hence the choice to vaccinate younger children who will mostly not be sexually active yet. But because the modern versions of these vaccines cover many strains (initial vaccines were two, Denmark chose a 4 way vaccine, now a nine way) it's very possible that you get a meaningful benefit by being protected from say six strains your body has never seen, even though the three it has already seen wouldn't be prevented.
- Fomite 1y ago
  It should be noted that the decision to vaccinate younger children is a combination of disease prevention and cost, not just vaccine effectiveness.
  - Scoundreller 1y ago
    And access! If you vaccinate in earlier grades of school, the kids haven’t had a chance to drop out yet.

I've heard of it being administered post exposure as a way to help the body fight the existing infection. Seemed a little odd when I first heard it as HPV should clear on it's own.

Fomite 1y ago
The key is you want it to clear as quickly as possible.

abirch 1y ago

There are multiple strains of HPV and most people haven't been infected with all of the strains. from https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/by_the_way_doctor_should_i_get_the_hpv_vaccine_if_im_already_infected https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/by_th...

mrheosuper 1y ago
Does the vaccine work against all strains ?
- epistasis 1y ago
  It has only been targeted against the strains known to cause cancer. I haven't looked but I would guess getting all strains would have been a greater challenge, and would not have greatly increased uptake of the vaccine. The false perception that it's a vaccine that will encourages unprotected sex has already greatly hindered adoption in the US.
- Fomite 1y ago
  No, it's targeted against those most associated with cancer.

Fomite 1y ago

Potentially, yes. HPV infections are cleared over time, and there are many strains of HPV.

everdrive 1y ago
That's really interesting, and from that I would assume that the risk of cervical (or other cancers) from HPV is associated with how often someone is reinfected? ie, someone who got HPV once in college doesn't have HPV their whole life? And potentially has a lower cancer risk than someone who is repeatedly re-infected? Am I understanding that correctly?
- Fomite 1y ago
  > someone who got HPV once in college doesn't have HPV their whole life? Doesn't necessarily have HPV their whole life - time-to-clearance is somewhat variable. And yes, both slower clearance and just more infections are both associated with increased risk.
- pitpatagain 1y ago
  https://www.hpvworld.com/articles/the-frequency-of-hpv-infection-worldwide/ https://www.hpvworld.com/articles/the-frequency-of-hpv-infec... It's incredibly prevalent, but most people clear it within a couple years, and won't even know that they had it. The time to clear it is just variable and depends on your body's immune response, the longer you go without clearing it the higher the cancer risk.

tialaramex 1y ago

In a sense no, hence the choice to vaccinate younger children who will mostly not be sexually active yet. But because the modern versions of these vaccines cover many strains (initial vaccines were two, Denmark chose a 4 way vaccine, now a nine way) it's very possible that you get a meaningful benefit by being protected from say six strains your body has never seen, even though the three it has already seen wouldn't be prevented.

Fomite 1y ago
It should be noted that the decision to vaccinate younger children is a combination of disease prevention and cost, not just vaccine effectiveness.
- Scoundreller 1y ago
  And access! If you vaccinate in earlier grades of school, the kids haven’t had a chance to drop out yet.