Vaccine.jpgBoys and girls alike are just as much at risk for contracting HPV. Because of this, researchers are just now acknowledging the potential benefits of vaccinating boys and girls against HPV, even though previous recommendations focused on providing only women with HPV vaccines to protect against cervical cancer.

The new vaccine provided by Merck & Company, Gardasil, may be useful for protecting men and women alike against human papilloma virus. In June the U.S. FDA licensed a new vaccine targeting women between the ages of 9 and 26 at risk for human papillomavirus or HPV. The reasons for this include the increased risk of cervical cancer associated with exposure to HPV virus in women.

The vaccine, Gardasil, helps protect against the four types of HPV most likely to cause cervical cancer in women. An advisory committee recently approved recommendation of Gardasil for women aged 11-12 as well as women who have abnormal pap smears or other sexual transmitted conditions.

New Information Prompts Recommendation for Male Vaccine
An associate professor at University of California at Irvine recently suggested the vaccine may be beneficial for both sexes, no matter the person’s risk factors for contracting HPV or cancer. This makes sense, considering young sexually active boys are just as likely to contract HPV as young women.

Representatives suggest doctors and researchers should adopt a new model of thinking that includes promotion of the HPV vaccine as a universal vaccine, helpful for preventing HPV and cancer without regard to one’s risk factors or gender.

Clearly this news is making an impact, as some groups are opposing requirements that girls or young women get shots to attend school. The vaccine controversy however, is one that has long been hotly debated, and not limited to STD vaccination.

Ultimately, many believe parents should have the right and final say to decide whether their children should or should not be immunized, whether for an STD or any other disease. Bradley Monk, a representative from the University at Irvine, suggests men are just as at risk as women as they can pass the HPV virus to their partner, even without active symptoms. The vaccine is also just as likely to prevent HPV warts in young boys vaccinated as young women, even if young boys aren’t at risk for cervical cancer.

Controversy Surrounds HPV Vaccines for Children
Some argue that greater promiscuity among young teens may result from a vaccine that promotes protection against a common STD threat. However this again is an old argument, one akin to the argument against providing condoms to teens. Just because you provide young adults with protection does not suggest they will act recklessly.

What is important is parents, teachers, health care providers and community members come together to warn children of the dangers of STDs and reckless behavior and provide them the tools they need to act safely and be protected. If a child is sexually active, it’s far better they are protected from STDs and aware of the risks than if they are ill informed or educated.

Many believe education is actually the best way to prevent children from engaging in promiscuous events. The less mystery surrounding an issue, the less intrigue and the less likely children are to act out or explore forbidden territory.

Still, the idea of vaccinating children against STDs is one that is controversial and likely to remain so for some time. It is important that parents educate themselves about the risks of HPV and the benefits of vaccination against HPV and other critical viruses or diseases. Ultimately the decision lies in the hands of parents. The more well informed you are, the better capable you are of making the decision that is best for you and your family.