CDC Recommends HPV Vaccine For Boys

By receiving the vaccine, boys will also be protected against cancers of the penis and rectum

A Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) federal advisory committee voted Tuesday to recommend that boys and young men, from ages 11 to 21, be vaccinated against the human papilloma virus (HPV).

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. At least 50% of sexually active people will get it at some point in their lives.

There are two FDA approved vaccinations, Gardasil and Cervarix, that is already recommended for females between the ages of 9 and 26 to reduce the risk of cervical cancer. Gardasil also protects against most genital warts and has been shown to protect against anal, vaginal and vulvar cancers, all of which are associated with HPV, according to the CDC.

The CDC recommends girls get the vaccine at age 11 or 12.
Although the vaccine has been approved for males, it hasn’t been pushed as heavily for them. By receiving the vaccine, boys will also be protected against cancers of the penis and rectum.

CDC recommends the vaccine, but states get to decide rather they are going to make it mandatory for school attendance. In the case of HPV for girls, only one state has made it mandatory for attending school.