Human papillomavirus vaccines in obstetrics and pediatrics: A comprehensive review

This review highlights the epidemiological significance, immunological function, and economic feasibility of Human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization, emphasizing both its benefits and challenges. Addressing vaccine hesitancy, ensuring equitable access, and expanding vaccination coverage for both genders are crucial to maximizing public health benefits. HPV is a highly prevalent infection with significant implications for global public health, particularly in obstetric and pediatric populations. Persistent infection with high-risk HPV genotypes, such as HPV-16 and HPV-18, is a leading cause of cervical cancer, a major contributor to cancer-related mortality worldwide. Beyond cervical malignancies, HPV is etiologically linked to anal, vulvar, vaginal, penile, and oropharyngeal carcinomas. Additionally, it is responsible for benign but distressing conditions such as genital warts, imposing substantial psychosocial and economic burdens. Prophylactic HPV vaccines have significantly improved the prevention of HPV-associated diseases. The currently available bivalent, quadrivalent, and nonavalent vaccines target high-risk oncogenic HPV types and provide near-complete protection against vaccine-included genotypes. These vaccines function by eliciting a robust immune response, effectively neutralizing HPV before it establishes an infection. However, despite their well-documented benefits, challenges such as vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, economic barriers, and global disparities in vaccine access persist. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of HPV immunization within obstetrics and pediatrics, emphasizing its epidemiological impact, immunological mechanisms, efficacy, safety, and implementation strategies. Furthermore, we explore existing barriers to vaccine uptake, disparities in global access, and potential future advancements, including next-generation vaccines and therapeutic interventions. Addressing these challenges through targeted public health initiatives, healthcare provider education, and equitable vaccine distribution strategies is essential to maximizing the public health impact of HPV immunization and reducing the global burden of diseases associated with HPV