A Story about a Vaccine Hero Updated 4/28/08

UPDATE: ABCNews.go.com has an article by Russell Goldman entitled "Study Links HPV to Lung Cancer."  It is an excellent article that says, "A newly published study links the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus, or HPV, to lung cancer, adding lungs to the list of organs scientists say are susceptible to cancer as a result of contracting the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States."

This is another good reason for parents to have their children vaccinated—and now because of the preventative for lung cancer it would now longer be for just girls.

This time my blog is not about real estate; but since it is my blog, please indulge me this time while I write about someone and something that I feel is very important and interesting.

The Seattle Times on Sunday, September 23, 2007 had an extensive article written by Paula Bock entitled From Virus to Vaccine about Professor Laura Koutsky.   "She is credited with developing the world's first human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine along with Dr. Kathrin Jansen, yeast expert then at Merck Research Laboratories." 

"Human papillomaviruses are responsible for virtually all cervical cancers.  Cervical cancer strikes 493,000 women every year and kills 274,000 of them."

The article talks about how she became interested in biology and ended up serving in the Peace Corps in the South Pacific kingdom of Tonga.  It was fate that got her into epidemiological research and a great story.

Now for the most important part of the article:  "Parents have to look at facts, the epidemiologist says:  40 percent of 16-year-old girls are sexually active; 70 percent of 18-year old girls are.  Washington State fully covers the vaccine for girls 18 and younger.  At $360 for the three-dose series, that's a significant savings.

Now that Koutsky's developed the vaccine, she's on the next challenge:  Getting it to the public.  'It would be a travesty if we have this highly safe and effective vaccine and it doesn't get used.'"

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