Immunogenicity, efficacy, effectiveness and overall impact of HPV vaccines

Abstract

Practically all genital infections with human papillomavirus (HPV) stem from sexual transmission following sexual debut, after which half of the young women are infected within 3 years (Collins et al. 2002; Winer et al. 2003). HPV transmission does not necessarily require mucosal contact but can also happen through contact of the skin and the genital mucosa (Moscicki et al. 2006). This is why both condom use and circumcision are protective against HPV transmission only partially (Winer et al. 2007; Wawer et al. 2011). It is noteworthy that HPV prevalence increases almost linearly with the increase of sexual partner numbers (Dillner et al. 1996; Koutsky 1997). Eventually, 70-80% of the sexually active population will acquire HPV infection. One third of young adult females and males are positive for HPV DNA, meaning they are able to transfer the virus (Auvinen et al. 2007; Kjaer et al. 2007; Giuliano et al. 2007).