HPV Vaccine and Boys
Published on Nov 17, 2011
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended that 11- and 12-year-old boys be vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV).
The recommendation is expected to be officially adopted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a few months.
HPV is a common sexually-transmitted infection associated with many types of cancer, including cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, and penis. HPV can also cause genital warts and some head and neck cancers. There are over 100 types of HPV.
“The HPV vaccine is a strong weapon in cancer prevention,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat during a CDC press briefing. Dr. Schuchat is the Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC.
According to the CDC, about 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV. Men who have sex with men and those with HIV are at the highest risk of developing diseases from HPV.
Not all people with HPV get cancer or genital warts. Most of the time, the infection clears up on its own. Many people have no symptoms and don’t even know they’re infected. However, even without symptoms, the virus can spread easily through sexual contact.
HPV vaccines were approved for girls and young women in 2006. In 2009, “permissive” use was allowed for boys and young men. This means that the vaccine was approved and available for this group, but was not yet recommended.
With the ACIP recommendation, and presumed CDC adoption, the HPV vaccine will become part of the pediatric vaccinations that are routinely recommended for boys. The recommended age for vaccination is 11 or 12 years, but the HPV vaccine can be given from age 9 to age 21.
The vaccine is more effective if given before any exposure to the virus (before first sexual contact). This is why it is recommended for 11- and 12-year-olds. Also, this age group has a better immune response than those that are older.
The ACIP recommendation does not make HPV vaccination mandatory.
The recommendation applies only to quadrivalent HPV vaccine, which protects against four HPV types: 6 and 11 (linked to genital warts) and 16 and 18 (linked to cancer). Gardasil, manufactured by Merck, is a quadrivalent vaccine.
Bivalent vaccines, which protect against two types of HPV (16 and 18), are not included in this recommendation. Cervarix, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, is a bivalent vaccine. Cervarix has not been approved for use in males.
The HPV vaccine is given in three doses spread months apart. Possible side effects include headache, fever, and some discomfort at the injection site. Most patients find these side effects to be mild or moderate.
The ACIP is a group of immunization experts that advises federal officials on immunization practices. To reach its decision to recommend HPV vaccination for boys, the ACIP reviewed data that was not available in 2009, when the vaccine was first approved for boys. The group also considered effectiveness, safety, disease trends, and cost effectiveness.
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