Gardasil has been the typical vaccine for HPV. Human papillomavirus or more commonly known as HPV 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.
Gardasil has been approved for use since 2006.
Cervarix was approved by the Food and Drug Administrationon October 16th
The panel also voted to approved the use of Gardasil 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 will be given in 3 doses
- 1st shot:
- 2nd shot: 1-2 months following the 1st shot
- 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 main questions. Since men don’t get cervical cancer they may not feel the responsibility. Although the vaccination does not just cover cervical cancer but covers genital warts as well.
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 next few weeks.
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 the blog article entitled: HPV Vaccine may do more than prevent Cervical Cancer, it may cause girls to be more cautious about sexual activity
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