To summarize which HPV strains I think should be prioritized, they are the ones with both the highest prevalence, and highest risk for permanently debilitating or fatal disease. This includes the hepatitis B and C viruses, along with the human papillomavirus that causes cervical cancer. Even though the EBV virus causes mononucleosis and Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the latter is not a guaranteed, let alone common, outcome of EBV infection. Mononucleosis is a severe infection, but rarely fatal, and resolves within months. Hepatitis, until recently for hep C, has been a lifelong condition with treatment but no cure. Hepatitis B and C cause not only liver cancer, but liver failure of other causes. A vaccine for hepatitis B and C should be prioritized for these reasons. The human papillomavirus is a common STD and not infrequently causes cervical cancer, so a vaccine for this virus should be prioritized as well. Viruses and their respective diseases to target after ones that are prioritized would be the EBV virus and the HTLV-1 virus. These viruses can cause deadly cancers; however, they do not do so on a frequent basis that would warrant the same calibre of funding that should be directed towards hepatitis or HPV. The lowest priority would be the Kaposi’s Sarcoma virus, because indirect treatment involves keeping a patient immunocompetent-as in, instead of treating KSHV, the cause of the immunosuppression in the patient is treated instead.
