what they said (Hover the mouse cursor over underlined words for more info)

New data on a bivalent human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine show it provides protection out to more than six years and may even guard against more than two cancer-causing strains of the virus.

Further, research with the bivalent vaccine shows increased antibody levels in women who have been given the vaccine after they have been exposed to HPV. It is not known yet if this provides some or any protection against developing cervical cancer...

The original article can be found at: http://www.medicalpost.com/medicine/clinical/article.jsp?content=20080722_112654_3276&s=1

how did it rate? (more information)

what we said (Hover the mouse cursor over underlined words for more info)

This story's strengths include its detailed discussion of the new vaccine and the research which is underlying its approval. Even though, the evidence cited seems to miss significant gaps. For example we are told that at 6.4 years, there was 100% efficacy against mild and moderate cervical dysplasia in the women vaccinated with the bivalent vaccine, yet curiously the reader isn't told the rates of these benefits in the control group.

The main issue in the story seems to be that since we don't know whether increased antibody levels help, it is unknown whether a vaccine which does this will actually provide some or any protection against developing cervical cancer. That doesn't seem to be the pitch of the story's key spokesperson whose potential financial ties aren't made apparent.

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