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(HPV), which is transmitted only by sexual contact with a partner.  Genital warts are most commonly associated with HPV–6 and HPV–11. HPV types 16 and 18 together are found in about 70 percent of cervical cancers. <ref>National Cancer Institute:  Human Papillomaviruses and Cancer: Questions and Answers [http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/HPV]</ref>

(HPV), which is transmitted only by sexual contact with a partner.  Genital warts are most commonly associated with HPV–6 and HPV–11. HPV types 16 and 18 together are found in about 70 percent of cervical cancers. <ref>National Cancer Institute:  Human Papillomaviruses and Cancer: Questions and Answers [http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/HPV]</ref>

Only about 3% of women are infected in their lifetime by these four types of HPV (Types 6, 11, 16, 18) targeted by the vaccine.<ref>This was confirmed by a study published February 28, 2007 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, JAMA 297(8):813-819, February 28, 2007.  "HPV vaccine types 6 and 11 (low-risk types) and 16 and 18 (high-risk types) were detected in 3.4% of female participants ...."[http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/297/8/813]</ref>

Only about 3% of women are infected in their lifetime by these four types of HPV (Types 6, 11, 16, 18) targeted by the vaccine.<ref name="JAMA">This was confirmed by a study published February 28, 2007 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, JAMA 297(8):813-819, February 28, 2007.  "HPV vaccine types 6 and 11 (low-risk types) and 16 and 18 (high-risk types) were detected in 3.4% of female participants ...."[http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/297/8/813]</ref>

The HPV vaccine does not protect against other sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., [[chlamydia]], [[herpes]], [[hepatitis]], [[trichomoniasis]], [[gonorrhea]], [[syphilis]], [[HIV]], [[AIDS]], etc.), and the vaccine is not recommended for use in pregnant women or girls.<ref>http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/g/gardasil/gardasil_pi.pdf</ref>

The HPV vaccine does not protect against other sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., [[chlamydia]], [[herpes]], [[hepatitis]], [[trichomoniasis]], [[gonorrhea]], [[syphilis]], [[HIV]], [[AIDS]], etc.), and the vaccine is not recommended for use in pregnant women or girls.<ref>http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/g/gardasil/gardasil_pi.pdf</ref>

The HPV vaccine is being promoted as protection against cervical cancer, but Merck itself does not ensure protection in its package insert.<ref>http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/g/gardasil/gardasil_pi.pdf</ref>  Rather, this claim is based on research showing that 70% of cervical cancer cases also have prevalence of these four strains of HPV, but correlation is not necessarily causation.<ref>http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/HPV</ref>  Cervical cancer has already been quickly declining in the United States ''without'' the vaccine.

The HPV vaccine is being promoted as protection against cervical cancer, but Merck itself does not ensure protection in its package insert.<ref>http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/g/gardasil/gardasil_pi.pdf</ref>  Rather, this claim is based on research showing that 70% of cervical cancer cases also have prevalence of these four strains of HPV, but correlation is not necessarily causation.<ref>http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/HPV</ref>  Cervical cancer has already been quickly declining in the United States ''without'' the vaccine.

Merck sells Gardasil for $360 ($120 per shot in a three-shot series).  Adding administrative costs, the overall cost to the public is $400-500 per child vaccinated.  Doing the math, the cost of vaccinating 100 children will be at least $40,000, but only 3 out of that 100 will ever be exposed to the HPV types targeted by the vaccine.

Merck sells Gardasil for $360 ($120 per shot in a three-shot series).  Adding administrative costs, the overall cost to the public is $400-500 per child vaccinated.  Doing the math, the cost of vaccinating 100 children will be at least $40,000, but only 3 out of that 100 will ever be exposed to the HPV types targeted by the vaccine.<ref name="JAMA" />

The average age of diagnosis of cervical cancer is 48 years old.  Accordingly, the effective cost is $13,000 per child to possibly protect her against a cancer over 30 years in the future.  But the vaccine is not known to be effective for more than five years; most new vaccines are not effective any longer than that.

The average age of diagnosis of cervical cancer is 48 years old.  Accordingly, the effective cost is $13,000 per child to possibly protect her against a cancer over 30 years in the future.  But the vaccine is not known to be effective for more than five years; most new vaccines are not effective any longer than that.