Laura Brennan, a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine advocate and cervical cancer casualty, was diagnosed with HPV-16-associated cervical cancer at age 24. In 2018, U.S. health officials extended the allowable age for the HPV vaccine to 45.
Determine which patients will have the greatest chance of protection from the Gardasil vaccine, which prevents infections of nine strains of HPV including HPV-16 and HPV-18 and five additional types of cancer-causing HPV as well as strains HPV-6 and HPV-11 that cause genital warts. Recall that vaccines train the body’s immune system to recognize a particular infection (see figure).
Now, rank the following female patients, starting with the female that would be protected against the greatest number of HPV strains in the future down to the female that would receive protection against the fewest strains.
Question List (4 items) (Drag and drop into the appropriate area)
An 18-year-old who has had HPV-6, a strain associated with genital warts
A 12-year-old already carrying Human papillomavirus strain 2, an HPV strain that causes plantar warts on the feet
A 42-year-old already carrying or exposed to HPV-11 and HPV-16
A 40-year-old already carrying or exposed to HPV-6, HPV-11, and HPV-16
Ranking:
1. A 18-year-old who has had HPV-6, a strain associated with genital warts
2. A 40-year-old already carrying or exposed to HPV-6, HPV-11, and HPV-16
3. A 42-year-old already carrying or exposed to HPV-11 and HPV-16
4. A 12-year-old already carrying Human papillomavirus strain 2, an HPV strain that causes plantar warts on the feet