HPV vaccine has been developed to help prevent pre-cancer disease of the cervix and ultimately prevent cancer of cervix. Recent figures show that there are over 2000 new cases of cervical cancer in England and many more in the rest of the world. Therefore the Gardasil vaccine is a key tool in fighting this dreaded disease of the cervix and other parts of the genital tract.

The basis for the recommendation is that these are the groups that were studied. They were studied first because they are most at risk since they are most likely to have not been exposed to the virus. Therefore these were the age groups likely to benefit the most. However, other groups are now being studied to see how effective and beneficial the HPV vaccine can be.

Licensing authorities in Europe and America have scrutinised the results of studies involving over 11,000 women and children aged 9-26. There were no important or serious side effects, except some tenderness on the site of the injection. Providers of the HPV vaccine are encouraged to report any unexpected reaction to the vaccine.

ThinPrep Pap specimens and specimens collected with the hc2 DNA Collection Device are approved for testing with Digene Hybrid Capture 2 DNA Assay. ThinPrep Pap specimens must be less than three weeks old. There must also be sufficient quantity remaining after processing the pap smear to perform the HPV testing. Also, tissue specimens (paraffin embedded) can be tested for high and low risk HPV using the in situ hybridization. Tissue specimens are stable indefinitely.

Human Papilloma virus one of the most common viral infections transmitted most commonly through sexual contacts. There are more than 90 strains or types of HPV but only some have the capability or predilection to infect the genitals. The overwhelming HPV infections are asymptomatic and pass off quickly once the body develops its immunity against the viruses.

Most women never know they have HPV. It usually stays hidden and doesn't cause symptoms like warts. When HPV doesn't go away on its own, it can cause changes in the cells of the cervix. Pap tests usually find these changes.

Protection against disease transmission is much less effective against such sexually transmitted diseases as Herpes and the Human Papilloma Virus, which can be located on skin surfaces not covered or protected by a condom. The female condom theoretically may be more effective in this situation because it covers a greater area.

No, the human influenza vaccine currently available does not protect against bird flu viruses. Clinical trials are underway now for a human vaccine to protect against the "bird flu".

You may benefit from Gardasil if you already have HPV. This is because most people are not infected with all four types of HPV contained in the vaccine. In clinical trials, individuals with current or past infection with one or more vaccine-related HPV types prior to vaccination were protected from disease caused by the remaining vaccine HPV types. Gardasil is not intended for treatment of the above-mentioned diseases.

The California Cryobank screens all of its donors to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases including HPV by exclusion of donors with known risk factors. Each donor is also given a physical examination with particular attention to the genital area for evidence of HPV infection. There are no FDA approved tests for routine screening of semen donors for HPV. We only use tests that have been validated for accuracy and reliability and licensed by the FDA.

In the unlikely event that the vaccinia virus is spread, symptoms may include rash, fever, and head and body aches.

The vaccine virus (Vaccinia) is spread by touching a vaccination site before it has healed or by touching bandages or clothing that have become contaminated with live virus from the vaccination site. Vaccinia is not spread through airborne contagion. Proper handling of the vaccine site includes these three key points: If you touch either the site or materials in contact with the site by accident, clean your hands right away.

In the studies, females with current or past infection with one or more vaccine-related HPV types prior to vaccination were protected from the diseases caused by the other remaining HPV types contained in the vaccine.

Several studies involving Gardasil and other Human Papilloma virus formulations have shown a near 100% protection against infection with the strains that were tested. Moreover, it has been shown that by preventing infection with the cervical cancer causing viruses, the pre-cancer stages of cervix and vulva are also prevented. This goes to show that the HPV vaccine has the potential to prevent cancer of the cervix and vulva and also has the potential to prevent genital warts.

Limited human-to-human transmission could not be ruled out for some family clusters of bird flu where there was close contact between family members. However, none of these clusters have led to larger outbreaks in the general community indicating that the virus does not spread easily among people.

There currently is no commercially available vaccine to protect humans against the H5N1 virus that is being seen in Asia and Europe. However, vaccine development efforts are taking place. Research studies to test a vaccine to protect humans against H5N1 virus began in April 2005, and a series of clinical trials is underway. For more information about the H5N1 vaccine development process, visit the National Institutes of Health website.

of July 2005, there is no vaccine for the H5N1 virus. However, scientists are working to develop one.

this time, there is no vaccine approved for llamas against West Nile Virus. We hope that by the spring, when the mosquitos are out in force again, a vaccine will have been developed. We will keep you posted as we learn more.

Last year there were almost 10,000 human cases of WNV detected, including 262 deaths in the United States.

Gardasil offers SOME protection against SOME of the Types of HPV that have been linked to cervical cancer. There are over 40 Types of HPV, and 15 of them have been linked to cervical cancer and/or genital warts. Gardasil has been developed to vaccinate against the 4 Types that have the highest correlation with cancer and genital warts. However, unlike the smallpox vaccine, for example, Gardasil does not grant full immunity to those 4 Types of HPV.

Gardasil Human Papilloma Virus vaccine is made by incorporating only the outer coat of the HPV viruses (types 6, 11, 16, 18) known as the virus like particles. These particles are capable of inducing an immune response very similar to a natural infection of HPV virus. The outer coat particles are not capable of causing infections and inducing cell changes leading to cancer or pre-cancer of the cervix.

Vaccines against the H5N1 avian virus currently occurring in SE Asia are under development. These are not the same asa pandemic vaccine - if a pandemic were to emerge from this virus the virus mayhave changed to such an extent that this vaccine may not be appropriate.

In 2001, a vaccine was conditionally approved for horses, which must be administered by a veterinarian. The initial vaccine is a two-injection series given three weeks apart. Both injections must be given to provide protection from West Nile virus. Foals may be vaccinated at 12 weeks of age and require a second dose three weeks later. If foals are vaccinated prior to 12 weeks of age, a three-dose series is recommended.

Gardasil is available at the Health Center Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for female patients. (At this time, the FDA has not approved the use of Gardasil for males.)

It is important to remember that although the HPV vaccine is effective in preventing new infection, it does not cure existing Human Papilloma virus infections or any of the diseases caused by these viruses such as genital warts, anal warts, pre-cancer of the vulva, vagina, cervix or anus. The HPV vaccine is 3 jabs given over a 6 month period and once the course is complete there will be no follow up required.

this moment in time there are about 13 strains of the Human Papilloma Virus group of viruses that cause cervical cancer. There are over 90 strains of HPV but most of them are harmless and infect other parts of the body or other animal species. Gardasil HPV vaccine has 4 of the most common cancer causing HPV strains namely type 6, type 11, type 16 and type 18. It is estimated that these for strains cause 72-75% of cervical cancer cases.

No. The annual flu vaccine only works against seasonal flu strains. Although a vaccine against the H5N1 virus is under development in several countries, any mutant flu virus could cause a pandemic. The vaccine needs to closely match the pandemic virus in order to work, so large-scale commercial production will not start until the new virus has emerged and a pandemic has been declared.