Question

Many teens have been vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cancer in both men and women. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this is a safe vaccine. Approximately 56 million doses have been distributed, and the CDC has received 21,194 reports of adverse events in females who received an HPV vaccine. Of these, 92.1% were classified as non-serious events such as fainting, nausea, or injection-site pain. The adverse events may or may not have been caused by the vaccine.

What is the primary purpose of the HPV vaccine?
a. Preventing nausea
b. Preventing cancer caused by HPV
c. Inducing fainting
d. Relieving injection-site pain

Answer 1

The primary purpose of the HPV vaccine is to prevent HPV-related cancers, particularly cervical cancer. It is provided through vaccines like Gardasil and Cervarix, which protect against high-risk HPV strains.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary purpose of the HPV vaccine is to prevent cancer caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The vaccine targets the strains of HPV that are most likely to lead to cervical cancer in women and other cancers in both men and women. It does not serve to prevent nausea, induce fainting, or relieve injection-site pain. These could be possible side effects, but they are not the purpose of the vaccine. The Gardasil and Cervarix vaccines are designed to significantly reduce the risk of HPV-related cancers by providing immunity against the virus, especially before an individual becomes sexually active.