How would this impact the improvements we’ve seen as a result of the HPV vaccine, Gardasil?

If the Trump administration were to take a more relaxed approach to vaccines, it could have a significant impact on the fight against HPV, potentially increasing the occurrence of both genital warts and cervical cancer.

The vaccine is crucial in preventing the HPV strains that cause most cervical cancers. Without widespread vaccination, more women could be exposed to these high-risk strains, resulting in higher rates of cervical cancer. Since cervical cancer is largely preventable through vaccination, a decline in Gardasil coverage could lead to a resurgence of this preventable disease, increasing healthcare costs and the loss of lives that could otherwise be saved.

Additionally, Gardasil protects against the HPV strains responsible for genital warts, a common and highly contagious condition. With fewer people getting vaccinated, more individuals would be vulnerable to these strains, likely leading to a rise in genital wart cases.

In short, less emphasis on vaccines like Gardasil could reverse the progress made in reducing HPV-related health issues, raising the rates of genital warts and cervical cancer while burdening the healthcare system with preventable conditions.