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Replies to #85236 on Biotech Values
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Biowatch

10/19/09 11:48 PM

#85243 RE: DewDiligence #85236

Politics. Preventing cervical cancer good. Preventing STD bad.

Plain and simple. Of course you want to immunize as many as possible against a communicable disease, especially as not all women or girls will get the vaccine.
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zipjet

10/20/09 7:31 AM

#85250 RE: DewDiligence #85236

>>third-party payers can be expected to argue that vaccinating males aged 9-26 to avert HPV infection in females is overkill if females aged 9-26 are already being vaccinated pursuant to the FDA label.

I understand that. From a cost minimization (for the payer's) perspective* the solution should turn on how many of the females are being immunized. IF that is very high (call it 75%) then immunizing males is far less significant to reducing transmission. Even in that case "active males" probably should be immunized.

I would argue that if less then 25% of females are being immunized that it is even more important to immunize the males.

I would hope that large payer's would take a big picture and long term view. But it is a health issue of public policy dimensions so a government mandate may lie.

ij


* Seems to me as we move toward universal coverage that taking a long term view of the minimization problems is more likely to be used.

PS DD - thanks for confirming my science was not faulty.