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Gardasil Vaccine – Should it be required for both boys and girls?

What is Gardasil?

Gardasil Vaccine is one of the few available vaccines for HPV. Human Papillomavirus or more commonly known as HPV is a virus that is sexually transmitted. Another known vaccination is called Cervarix

It has several types, but only a few types have been directly linked to cervical cancer.

Recently the The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted and approved the use of Cervarix for girls 11 and 12.

The vaccine was approved in the US on June 8, 2006 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  In 2008, it has been approved in over 40 states and it has been approved in over 120 countries.  The FDA strongly recommends vaccination before an adolescent is sexually active.

Cervarix was approved by the FDA as well. The panel also voted to approved the use of Gardasil vaccine to males between the age of 9 through 26.

The dosing for Gardasil and Cervarix will be approved and allowed in the Government’s Vaccines for Children program

This program will provide immunizations free for uninsured and under-insured children.

Dosing for both girls and boys will be given in 3 doses

1.)  1st shot:  The initial vaccination
2.)  2nd shot: 1-2 months following the 1st shot
3.)  3rd shot:  6 months following 1st shot

Gardasil is made by Merck & Co
Cervarix is made by GlaxoSmithKline

Will Boys choose to have Vaccine?

This appears one of the many questions being asked by experts.  Since men don’t get Cervical Cancer they may not feel the responsibility. Although the vaccination does not just cover cervical cancer, it can also cover some Genital Warts as well.

There is an increase chance of anal warts, anal cancer, and penile in males associated with HPV. Gardasil Vaccine could help with prevention that is often overlooked for boys.

It is believed that only 1% of sexually active males in the U.S. develop genital warts. Genital warts are not life threatening.

The true benefit would return back to the female. Some argue to require or mandate a vaccination and prompt health insures to pay for this vaccination.

Currently no mandate has been put into place but the CDC will begin debating this argument in the future.

A Harvard University study recently placed in the British Medical Journal this mouth found no cost benefit by vaccinating boys. Consideration for the benefit that women would gain was added into this study, though it didn’t change the outcome. However, Mereck did their own study and found the results were different from the study done at Harvard University.

“It may seem unfair: Should this burden be borne by only girls and women?” asked Nancy Berlinger of the Hastings Center, a nonprofit bioethics research institute.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125572545935790741

Check out More with the following blog article:  

HPV Vaccine may do more than prevent Cervical Cancer, it may cause girls to be more cautious about sexual activity