Study finds HPV vaccine protects children with vulnerable immune systems

While the protective benefits of the HPV vaccine in the general population are well known, new research shows it may also benefit children with weakened immune systems who are at higher risk of HPV-related cancers. The research, led by UNSW, suggests children with conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and juvenile arthritis or those requiring organ or bone marrow transplants, received a boost in immune response after receiving the vaccine. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with several cancers including cervical, head and neck, anogenital and throat cancer. Children who are immunosuppressed are particularly vulnerable. Despite this increased burden, only a few studies have examined how the HPV vaccine provokes an immune response in the body in children with weakened immune systems. These studies have focused on those with HIV, inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatological conditions. The UNSW study enrolled 59 unvaccinated children aged between 5–18 years of age from three Australian children’s hospitals....