Brian,

Here's what confusion prompted my comments that I have been unable to find the right person to answer.

We know that HPV is a very common virus finding it's way into a very large % of the population starting at a very young age.

We know that most people's immune system clears the virus and it never affects them.

We know that in a few of us the virus can cause warts and cancer in the squanmous cells.

It stands to reason that one can be constantly introduced to the virus throughout our lifetime and either our immune system or the antibodies created by the vaccine continue to have to clear it.

We are told that the virus may go dormant for decades before it can cause problems.

So what I can't get answers to is:

If the virus infects us and our immune clears it initially, will it continue to clear it upon subsequent infections, if any?

What causes most immune systems to clear and some not? I have been told everything from genetics to stress.

If the virus goes dormant what triggers it's awakening? and if our immune system is weak or incapable is that when the virus can cause problems? or if our immune system is "stronger" will it clear the virus?

Re the vaccine, and assuming what I have said above may be factual, if the virus has gone dormant or we are reinfected and our immune system is not capable of clearing it, wouldn't the antibodies created by the vaccine given at any age then clear the virus?