Bottom line: Gardasil and Cervarix are not protecting the majority of our Black women and girls from the sub-types of high-risk HPV we are known to carry.
I’m still an advocate of vaccination in general because it offers what is known as “herd immunity.” However, we need to keep a watchful eye on the research as it further develops AND be willing to participate in the research. If you happen to have an abnormal pap smear, ask your GYN or primary care provider if they are aware of any studies currently being funded by NIH to further examine the correlation between HPV sub-types and ethnic/racial groups. We need a vaccine that will offer protection against the high-risk sub-types of HPV that plague our community.
For a more in-depth understanding of the sub-types that plague various ethnic/racial groups, please read the article highlighting a study conducted by Cathrine Hoyo, Ph.D., M.P.H. here.