Why in 2013 are only teenaged girls immunized against HPV?

Submitted by Mastodon on Fri, 2013-06-07 23:07

Article here. Excerpt:

'Yesterday, Hollywood actor Michael Douglas announced that his battle with throat cancer was caused by oral sex - or more specifically, the HPV virus frequently contracted through oral sex.

The 68 year-old, who fought a six month battle with the disease from August 2010 until January 2011, initially blamed an indulgent lifestyle of cigarettes and alcohol.
...
However, in the same breath that Angelina Jolie has been lionised for her public honesty, Douglas has been criticised for it. Namely, because it may embarrass his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Yet, given the fact that Britain's men are living with a ticking HPV time-bomb - and, unlike girls, aren't immunised against it - her pride shouldn't even be a consideration.

Especially as they both have a son. A son who, like every boy in this country, will be ignored when it comes to HPV.'

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Comments

In the USA the HPV vaccine is for both boys and girls

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/who/teens/vaccines/hpv.html

Vaccines are heavily pushed by drug companies. The larger demographic of people they can recommend for a vaccine the more profit they can make. I think when it first came out, it was only for girls. I heard this had to do with limited supplies and getting the greatest benefit. Girls are often more susceptible to genital viruses and bacteria due to their anatomy. Many girls and mothers complained about why only girls had to get the immunization when it helps everyone. Certainly the drug companies would want both genders to get it, and now they do (in the USA).

Keep in mind that your body is able to fight off HPV, so usually people get it and it goes away on its own. Very few HPVs are the cancer causing types so very very rarely does HPV turn into cancer. (Smoking doesn't help matters). This is also why the vaccine is getting criticized by some as being overly recommended as a defense against cancer.

I know in USA and Australia both boys and girls get vaccinated for HPV, not sure about other countries.

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Submitted by Kris on Sun, 2013-06-09 00:25

Article is in a UK paper so I'll infer the UK NH doesn't pay for HPV immunizations for boys. I suppose this doesn't mean, however, that a parent can't get their boy immunized, just that it'd be out-of-pocket.

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Submitted by Matt on Sun, 2013-06-09 14:54