S4 Ep188: The Case for HPV (and Other) Vaccinations in Women Over 45 with Vivien Brown

Update: 2025-11-13

Description

Human Papillomavirus, or HPV, is responsible for 6 different kinds of cancers…Cervical, anal, oral pharyngeal, vaginal, vulvar, and penile. So, it was a big deal when the HPV vaccine was approved in 2006 females between the ages of 9 and 26. In 2018, the age range was expanded to include adults up to the age of 45. But, what about women over 45? Shouldn’t they have the option of getting a vaccine that prevents 90% of HPV related cancers?

My guest is Dr. Vivien Brown, an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto with a special interest in Adult Immunization and Vaccine Preventable Illness. Dr. Brown presented HPV initiatives in Canada at the UN meetings for the Commission on the Status of Women.

Background on the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine and HPV

Cancers associated with HPV

Who should get HPV vaccines

Why it is best to vaccinate young girls and boys

If women with cervical cancer should still get vaccinated

If people who got the original vaccine with 4 serotypes, should get the newer vaccine with 9 serotypes

How much the vaccine reduces the risk of cancer

Side effects of the vaccine

Why the vaccine was expanded from age 26 to age 45

Vaccine efficacy is less in older women

How HPV is transmitted in older women

Time of exposure of HPV to cancer

Reasons that women over the age of 45 are at risk of exposure to HPV

The case for universal vaccinations and STI screening

If MEN are (should) getting vaccinated over age 45

If women should get tested for previous infections before getting vaccinated

Why Canadian dentists are now counseling and administering HPV vaccinating

If single women in their 60s should get vaccinated if they are not sexually active and have no plans for sexual activity

Other vaccines recommended in older women
- Tetanus
- Pneumonia
- Influenza
- Shingles
- RSV
- Covid

If it’s OK to get tvaccines all at once or if dosing should be divided

The Case for Seeing a Gynecologist No Matter How Old You Are

Vivien Brown MDCM,*CCFP, MSCP

Dr. Vivien Brown, is a family physician and Assistant Professor, Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto, is renowned for her expertise in women’s health, brain health, immunization, health promotion and healthy aging.

*MDCM stands for Medicinae Doctorem et Chirurgiae Magistrum, which translates to "Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery" in Latin. It is a medical degree awarded by McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

Dr. Streicher is on SUBSTACK DrStreicher.Substack.com

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Lauren Streicher MD, is a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, the founding medical director of the Northwestern Medicine Center for Sexual Medicine and Menopause, and a Senior Research Fellow of The Kinsey Institute, Indiana University. She is a certified menopause practitioner of The Menopause Society.

Dr. Streicher is the medical correspondent for Chicago’s top-rated news program, the WGN Morning News, and has been seen on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, NPR, Dr. Radio, Nightline, Fox and Friends, The Steve Harvey Show, CBS This Morning, ABC News Now, NBCNightlyNews,20/20, and World News Tonight. She is an expert source for many magazines and serves on the medical advisory board of The Kinsey Institute, Self Magazine, and Prevention Magazine. She writes a regular column for The Ethel by AARP and Prevention Magazine.

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