The new-ish HPV vaccine has had lots of media exposure over the past few months after presidential candidates Rick Perry and Michelle Bachmann disputed it's safety and/or risks during debates.
The New York Times reports a federal advisory committee has now recommended that boys and men should also be vaccinated for HPV. The paper goes on to explain:
HPV infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease — between 75 percent and 80 percent of females and males in the United States will be infected at some point in their lives. Most will overcome the infection with no ill effects. But in some people, infections lead to cellular changes that cause warts or cancer, including cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancers in women and anal cancers in men and women. A growing body of evidence suggests that HPV also causes throat cancers in men and women.
The HPV vaccine must be given in a series of 3 shots and costs upwards of $300 out-of-pocket since most insurance companies do not cover the cost.
It's Feedback Friday...
How do you feel about the HPV vaccination?
Do you think the vaccine should be added to the list of state required vaccinations?
Do you think insurance companies or the government should cover the costs of this vaccine?
Are your children, boys or girls, vaccinated against HPV?
Do you think the vaccine should be added to the list of state required vaccinations?
Do you think insurance companies or the government should cover the costs of this vaccine?
Are your children, boys or girls, vaccinated against HPV?
**Interesting point brought up in the comments - do you think of this as a vaccine against Cancer or a vaccine against STD's?
