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Home › Articles › Health › The HPV Vaccine

The HPV Vaccine

A Shot Against Cervical Cancer

By Kelly Burgess

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The Future of the Vaccine
Although the HPV vaccine has "officially" been recommended only for girls ages 11 to 12, most doctors and public health experts, including all of those included in this article, recommend the vaccine for any female between age 9 and 26 who has not yet had it. There is no reason not to do so, and many, many reasons why it is a good idea.

In addition, look for the vaccine to be recommended for boys in the near future, and, ultimately, for many states to require the vaccine for both sexes as a requirement for middle school admission. Merck's initial trials have shown that it is as effective in preventing HPV infection in males as in females. Because the virus is transmitted from partner to partner, the only way to completely eradicate it would be to have both males and females vaccinated.

At this time, the FDA has not approved the vaccine for boys – an approach that Dr. Rodewald thinks is due to a desire to take a conservative approach to the vaccine's introduction. Personally, he would like to see all boys get the vaccine, and laughingly notes that he even tried, unsuccessfully, to get his own 14 year-old son into a clinical trial. "This process is going one step at a time, and I think vaccinating boys is the next logical step," he says. "There are some cancers boys get from HPV, but more importantly this will prevent warts and also prevent transmission. That alone is a crucial factor in cutting down a woman's long-term risk from HPV."

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