
2. The vaccine can lead to a reduction in genital warts [PRO]
There was a recent study published in the PLOS One journal showing that Australian women between the age of 15 to 27 saw a 61% decrease in genital warts following a vaccination program. This went from 4.33 in every 1,000 prior to the program to only 1.67 for every 1,000 following the program.
The period following the program that was monitored ranged from July 2008 to June 2012. The CDC has stated that around 360,000 people of both genders get genital warts in the United States annually. These warts are often benign but can spread through skin-to-skin contact which includes oral sex.
This is in contrast to other STDs that may require penetrative intercourse to be able to spread. Thus, it’s important that children be vaccinated long before they have any sexual contact with others — such as prior to age 12.