**2. Myths**

*Human Papillomavirus*

be eliminated?

HPV types [12].

burden is mostly present in females.

Males are the carriers of this sexual-transmitted disease; however, the disease

First ever vaccination study was developed as a monovalent (for a single type) against 16 with a 100% protection rate [9]. This vaccine was not commercialized. A bivalent (for 2-types) vaccine against the most cancer-linked types 16 and 18 based on the previous study, as well as a quadrivalent (for four-types) vaccine based on recombinant virus-like particle (VLPs) were developed by the world-leader companies GSK and MSD [10, 11]. Then, a nonavalent (for nine-types) vaccine was developed and commercialized in order to protect against even more cancer-linked

Since anogenital warts are one of the substantial social problems, it has not been available and bivalent vaccine against HPV 6 and 11 is still in progress. The current vaccines in use do not provide protection against HPV types associated with nonwart anogenital warts and non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC). Therefore, vaccination studies against L2 proteins are in progress in the phase of animal experiments. The International Papillomavirus Society, in an excerpt in the Guardian, pointed

to Australia as a model for eradicating cervical cancer; they discussed results in between 2005 and 2015 and showed vaccination rates at 78.6% for girls below the

cervical cancer. According to the strategy, to provide a total elimination from cervical cancer, up to 15 years of age 90% of the girls should be vaccinated, 70% of females aged between 35 and 45 should be screened via high sensitivity tests and 90% of women should be successfully treated of cervical diseases (precancerous lesions and invasive cancers). World Health Organization stated that if these goals are reached by 2030, the elimination of cervical cancer would be possible in 2090 (**Figure 5**) (https://www.who.int/docs/defaultsource/documents/cervical-cancer-

World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a strategy plan to eliminate

In Turkey, however, the situation is highly controversial. As of the last months of 2019, nonavalent is not licensed let alone being included in a vaccination programme. Unfortunately, two of our worst examples for vaccination; polio and hepatitis B; shows a 17-year delay in adapting vaccination programs behind the rest of the world. In 1955, there were statements on Milliyet Journal's columns such as

age of 15 and 72.9% for boys below the age of 15, since 2016 [13].

elimination-draft-strategy.pdf?sfvrsn=380979d6\_4).

So, is there any vaccine developed against this infectious disease, can this disease

**94**

**Figure 5.**

*Timeline for eliminating cervical cancer.*

