Is the HPV vaccine for boys, too?
I read in today's (July 13, 2010) Hampshire Gazette that the Gardasil vaccine is now recommended for boys. Do you think it has been tested long enough to be safe? Do you recommend it for boys? And, will you be offering it in your offices?
The FDA approved Gardasil (HPV or Human Papilloma Virus vaccine) for boys and men ages 9 to 26 last fall. These are the same ages that apply to girls and women. HPV is a highly prevalent virus in adults, sexually transmitted, and linked causally to cervical cancer, penile cancer, genital warts, anal cancers and oral cancers.
We agree that the vaccine is safe and effective for both males and females. We rely on the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) for recommendations regarding whether vaccines should be given. They have made a permissive statement meaning they allow it but are not recommending it for all males. This is a very costly vaccine and not covered by insurance in many cases. Therefore we are waiting for the AAP to have a stronger recommendation and for insurance companies to cover the expense before we are suggesting it for all of our male patients. The vaccine is available at NAP for males, but we encourage you to discuss it with your provider if you have further interest in the vaccine.
