New federal recommendations ask that the human papillomavirus vaccine now be administered to young boys as well as girls. According to the New York Times, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are suggesting that boys received the vaccine starting at the age of nine.
The advantage of vaccinating boys at such an early age is the additional time HPV antibodies have to develop before sexual maturity is reached, Michael Brady of Nationwide Children’s Hospital said.
“If you wait until you think they’re sexually active, you may miss the opportunity to protect them,” Brady said.
The vaccine was previously pushed toward young girls as a way to prevent cervical cancer, which can stem from HPV infection. Now, federal health authorities are saying HPV antibodies can also help lower the risk of head, neck and anal cancers in both sexes.
New data suggests that HPV is now a common sexually transmitted disease, with one in 15 Americans infected with the oral form of the virus. Oral HPV was also shown to disproportionately affect men, the CDC report said.
The recommendations come in the form of the CDC’s annual vaccination schedule, which was released for adolescents and adults this week. Other changes in federal guidelines include hepatitis B vaccinations for diabetics and a booster shot for pregnant women.
