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Commentary

HPV Vaccine Facts: Can't See the Forest Through the Trees

Janine T. Bryan

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The English language and many other languages, I imagine, are filled with hundreds of colorful clichés that sometimes work their way into our thinking and are treated almost like fact. As a basic scientist developing vaccines, the thought that a mere metaphor or expression, characterized by overuse, could be considered on equal footing as that which has undergone scientific rigor and is therefore proven fact, is hard to stomach. Although I am a bit hesitant to open a can of worms, it does seem worthwhile point out a few clichés which have been passed around in reference to the HPV vaccines which, let's call a spade a spade, are not necessarily fact. It is often difficult to discuss science in a way that is clear to the lay population and thus literary imagery is a powerful tool used to level the playing field.

Authors

Janine T. Bryan

Vaccine and Biologics Research, MRL, Merck & Co., Inc.; West Point, PA USA

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