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Antiviral chewing gum to reduce influenza and herpes simplex virus transmission

(penntoday.upenn.edu)
180 points gnabgib | 3 comments | 09 Apr 25 19:09 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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sys32768 ◴[09 Apr 25 21:34 UTC] No.43638259[source]▶
I never got the HPV vaccine and am now too old. Recently I had a papilloma removed from my soft palate near my uvula. They checked it for cancer but not HPV, even though they said it was almost certainly HPV.

So for $129 I took the OraRisk HPV test which tests for 51 strains, including the ones associated with cancer, and the results came up negative.

So I maybe sort of probably don't have HPV, or may have but don't anymore. Or maybe something like that.

replies(2): >>43641178 #>>43642025 #
1. carlmr ◴[10 Apr 25 08:50 UTC] No.43642025[source]▶
>I never got the HPV vaccine and am now too old

It can still help even with previous exposure. This is outdated information. Also it helps against 9 strains. Most people are not exposed to all 9 instantly.

Further you can be exposed without having intercourse. Skin contact is enough. Even walking barefoot in the gym.

You will have to pay yourself probably, but since you paid $129 for a test I'm assuming you could afford at least one vaccine dose.

Also the NHS did a study and found a single dose is sufficient.

replies(1): >>43643773 #
2. sys32768 ◴[10 Apr 25 13:51 UTC] No.43643773[source]▶
Every source I see says the vaccine is approved only up to age 45, but are you saying my doctor will give it upon request?
replies(1): >>43659849 #
3. carlmr ◴[11 Apr 25 23:32 UTC] No.43659849[source]▶
So I showed my doctor sources from the NHS (I'm not in England), and he agreed to do it, although I had to obviously pay out of pocket. There's also no safety limit for age[1], so there's no reason not to give it to you if you pay for it.

[1] https://www.mskcc.org/news/think-you-re-too-old-get-hpv-vacc...