HPV Vaccine and Boys

Via

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices  voted to recommend that boys (and young men) from the ages of 11-21, be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is the virus responsible for causing cancer in both men and women. For women certain strains cause cervical cancer, and in men HPV is responsible for causing throat, anal and penile cancers.


Why vaccinate?
Vaccination helps to prevent cancer. It also prevent boys/young men from potentially passing HPV to their partners.


It's cost effective. The vaccine is given in a three-part series, with each dose costing around $120. The vaccine is expensive and now with this recommendation, most private insurance companies will now pay for the vaccine. Also as someone pointed out, "people will pay $400 for an iPhone but not the vaccine to prevent cervical cancer".

What this vaccine will NOT do
Some very misinformed sources (Michele Bachmann) claim that the vaccine will cause some harmful side effects. As with anything, I ask "where is the evidence, what does the research indicate". All vaccines and medications will have some side effects, even tylenol. As for the concerns raised by Michele Bachmann, studies performed by the CDC show no evidence that the HPV vaccine causes mental retardation.


Another myth/concern is that this vaccine promotes sexual promiscuity. The vaccine works best before exposure to any strain of the HPV virus and before sexual activity. I have to also say that abstinence is always the best method to prevent any sexually transmitted infection/disease. We routinely vaccinate our children for diseases they can be exposed to as adults like Hepititis B. Why not the same strong reaction against vaccinating like for HPV? One of the things we can do is to empower our children is to educate them. 

Its your choice
It's your choice to vaccinate your child or not, but make an informed decision.


Sources of information:
CDC
CNN 
NY Times